Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Rwanda

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Rwanda in 2025 — 45.93%. Ranked 117 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 30.81 pp.

2025 45.93% −15.14 pp vs 2024
World rank 117of 189
Period maximum 61.07%2024
Period minimum 12.5%1963

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Rwanda, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 15.13%1962: 13.6%1964: 18.46%1966: 26.5%1968: 21.49%1970: 24.56%1972: 21.91%1974: 30.47%1976: 29.16%1978: 28.71%1980: 25.1%1982: 26.79%1984: 26.65%1986: 27.66%1988: 19.95%1990: 15.61%1992: 17.45%1994: 36.76%1996: 23%1998: 17.34%2000: 12.71%2002: 15.92%2004: 16.07%2006: 22.54%2008: 28.16%2010: 28.55%2012: 38.26%2014: 39.27%2016: 34.72%2018: 38.94%2020: 45.59%2022: 47.84%2024: 61.07%2025: 45.93%
Change over the period: +30.81 pp Annual average: 0.47 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Rwanda 45.93%
World 43.89%
Eastern Africa computed 37.9%
Low-income countries computed 39.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Rwanda, by year Rwanda All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 45.93 −15.14 pp
2024 61.07 +9.1 pp
2023 51.98 +4.14 pp
2022 47.84 +2.53 pp
2021 45.31 −0.28 pp
2020 45.59 +4.38 pp
2019 41.21 +2.27 pp
2018 38.94 +1.99 pp
2017 36.95 +2.23 pp
2016 34.72 −0.97 pp
2015 35.69 −3.58 pp
2014 39.27 +0.32 pp
2013 38.95 +0.7 pp
2012 38.26 +1.46 pp
2011 36.79 +8.24 pp
2010 28.55 +1.01 pp
2009 27.54 −0.62 pp
2008 28.16 +4.57 pp
2007 23.59 +1.05 pp
2006 22.54 +2.22 pp
2005 20.31 +4.24 pp
2004 16.07 +1.01 pp
2003 15.06 −0.86 pp
2002 15.92 −2.74 pp
2001 18.66 +5.95 pp
2000 12.71 −1.8 pp
1999 14.51 −2.83 pp
1998 17.34 −3.45 pp
1997 20.79 −2.21 pp
1996 23 +0.59 pp
1995 22.42 −14.34 pp
1994 36.76 +16.57 pp
1993 20.19 +2.74 pp
1992 17.45 −3.43 pp
1991 20.87 +5.27 pp
1990 15.61 −1.9 pp
1989 17.51 −2.45 pp
1988 19.95 −1.65 pp
1987 21.6 −6.07 pp
1986 27.66 +2.66 pp
1985 25.01 −1.64 pp
1984 26.65 −0.39 pp
1983 27.03 +0.24 pp
1982 26.79 +0.85 pp
1981 25.94 +0.84 pp
1980 25.1 −2.84 pp
1979 27.94 −0.76 pp
1978 28.71 −0.09 pp
1977 28.8 −0.37 pp
1976 29.16 +4.51 pp
1975 24.66 −5.82 pp
1974 30.47 +7.43 pp
1973 23.04 +1.13 pp
1972 21.91 −2.76 pp
1971 24.67 +0.11 pp
1970 24.56 +4.42 pp
1969 20.14 −1.35 pp
1968 21.49 +0.18 pp
1967 21.31 −5.19 pp
1966 26.5 +5 pp
1965 21.51 +3.04 pp
1964 18.46 +5.96 pp
1963 12.5 −1.1 pp
1962 13.6 −0.33 pp
1961 13.93 −1.19 pp
1960 15.13

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.