Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — OECD

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in the OECD in 2025 — 41.87%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 25.52 pp.

2025 41.87% +0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 48.35%2022
Period minimum 15.91%1962

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — OECD, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 16.35%1962: 15.91%1964: 16.64%1966: 16.93%1968: 17.46%1970: 19.23%1972: 19.73%1974: 27.7%1976: 26.69%1978: 26.26%1980: 30.54%1982: 28.02%1984: 27.77%1986: 25.45%1988: 26.25%1990: 27.79%1992: 26.24%1994: 26.78%1996: 29.81%1998: 31.48%2000: 34.78%2002: 33.51%2004: 37%2006: 41.66%2008: 45.69%2010: 41.79%2012: 45.06%2014: 44.52%2016: 40.42%2018: 43.67%2020: 39.66%2022: 48.35%2024: 41.77%2025: 41.87%
Change over the period: +25.52 pp Annual average: 0.39 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: OECD

OECD 41.87%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 41.87 +0.1 pp
2024 41.77 −1.71 pp
2023 43.48 −4.88 pp
2022 48.35 +4.62 pp
2021 43.73 +4.07 pp
2020 39.66 −2.34 pp
2019 42.01 −1.66 pp
2018 43.67 +1.31 pp
2017 42.36 +1.94 pp
2016 40.42 −1.39 pp
2015 41.81 −2.7 pp
2014 44.52 −0.53 pp
2013 45.04 −0.02 pp
2012 45.06 −0.5 pp
2011 45.56 +3.77 pp
2010 41.79 +4.34 pp
2009 37.44 −8.25 pp
2008 45.69 +2.39 pp
2007 43.3 +1.64 pp
2006 41.66 +2.79 pp
2005 38.87 +1.86 pp
2004 37 +2.43 pp
2003 34.57 +1.07 pp
2002 33.51 −0.28 pp
2001 33.79 −0.99 pp
2000 34.78 +2.57 pp
1999 32.2 +0.72 pp
1998 31.48 +0.35 pp
1997 31.13 +1.32 pp
1996 29.81 +1 pp
1995 28.82 +2.04 pp
1994 26.78 +1.55 pp
1993 25.22 −1.02 pp
1992 26.24 −0.39 pp
1991 26.64 −1.16 pp
1990 27.79 +0.72 pp
1989 27.07 +0.82 pp
1988 26.25 +0.33 pp
1987 25.92 +0.47 pp
1986 25.45 −1.68 pp
1985 27.13 −0.64 pp
1984 27.77 +1.07 pp
1983 26.7 −1.31 pp
1982 28.02 −1.32 pp
1981 29.34 −1.2 pp
1980 30.54 +1.95 pp
1979 28.59 +2.33 pp
1978 26.26 −0.58 pp
1977 26.84 +0.15 pp
1976 26.69 +1.11 pp
1975 25.59 −2.11 pp
1974 27.7 +5.33 pp
1973 22.37 +2.63 pp
1972 19.73 +0.44 pp
1971 19.29 +0.07 pp
1970 19.23 +1.03 pp
1969 18.19 +0.73 pp
1968 17.46 +0.77 pp
1967 16.69 −0.24 pp
1966 16.93 +0.17 pp
1965 16.75 +0.11 pp
1964 16.64 +0.49 pp
1963 16.15 +0.25 pp
1962 15.91 −0.27 pp
1961 16.18 −0.17 pp
1960 16.35

About the indicator

The sum of exports and imports of goods as a percent of GDP. It differs from trade openness in that services are not counted here, and the difference between the two indicators is exactly what shows the weight of services in a country's foreign trade. The highest values come not from large exporters but from transshipment economies — Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg — where goods are brought in to be sent out again, and both flows are counted in full.

Important: Goods only. The value can exceed 100% of GDP: exports and imports are counted at the full value of the goods while GDP is counted as value added, so in transshipment economies the values run to several hundred percent.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.