Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Saudi Arabia in 2025 — 44.23%. Ranked 121 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 20.13 pp.

2025 44.23% +1.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 121of 189
Period maximum 84.63%1980
Period minimum 40.61%2020

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia, 1960–202540608010019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 64.35%1962: 63.6%1964: 66.66%1966: 76.8%1968: 59.63%1970: 56.98%1972: 68.57%1974: 84.59%1976: 73.4%1978: 76.19%1980: 84.63%1982: 78.13%1984: 59.55%1986: 45.19%1988: 52.3%1990: 58.22%1992: 61.26%1994: 48.79%1996: 55.76%1998: 46.9%2000: 56.89%2002: 55.24%2004: 67.01%2006: 74.58%2008: 82.45%2010: 67.78%2012: 72.35%2014: 65.59%2016: 46.97%2018: 48.66%2020: 40.61%2022: 48.51%2024: 42.92%2025: 44.23%
Change over the period: −20.13 pp Annual average: -0.31 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Saudi Arabia 44.23%
World 43.89%
Western Asia computed 46.07%
High-income countries computed 44.15%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 44.23 +1.3 pp
2024 42.92 −0.32 pp
2023 43.24 −5.27 pp
2022 48.51 +4.85 pp
2021 43.66 +3.05 pp
2020 40.61 −6.05 pp
2019 46.66 −2 pp
2018 48.66 +0.59 pp
2017 48.07 +1.1 pp
2016 46.97 −7.58 pp
2015 54.55 −11.04 pp
2014 65.59 −5.09 pp
2013 70.68 −1.67 pp
2012 72.35 −0.57 pp
2011 72.91 +5.13 pp
2010 67.78 +0.69 pp
2009 67.09 −15.37 pp
2008 82.45 +4.67 pp
2007 77.78 +3.2 pp
2006 74.58 +1.46 pp
2005 73.12 +6.11 pp
2004 67.01 +4.47 pp
2003 62.53 +7.29 pp
2002 55.24 +1.32 pp
2001 53.92 −2.97 pp
2000 56.89 +8.18 pp
1999 48.71 +1.81 pp
1998 46.9 −7.01 pp
1997 53.91 −1.86 pp
1996 55.76 +1.26 pp
1995 54.51 +5.72 pp
1994 48.79 −4.3 pp
1993 53.09 −8.17 pp
1992 61.26 +3.12 pp
1991 58.14 −0.08 pp
1990 58.22 +6.27 pp
1989 51.95 −0.35 pp
1988 52.3 +1.8 pp
1987 50.51 +5.32 pp
1986 45.19 −4 pp
1985 49.19 −10.37 pp
1984 59.55 −6.3 pp
1983 65.85 −12.28 pp
1982 78.13 −6.06 pp
1981 84.18 −0.44 pp
1980 84.63 +6.06 pp
1979 78.57 +2.38 pp
1978 76.19 −2.15 pp
1977 78.34 +4.94 pp
1976 73.4 +0.95 pp
1975 72.45 −12.14 pp
1974 84.59 +11.27 pp
1973 73.32 +4.75 pp
1972 68.57 +3.74 pp
1971 64.83 +7.85 pp
1970 56.98 −5.17 pp
1969 62.15 +2.53 pp
1968 59.63 −12.77 pp
1967 72.4 −4.4 pp
1966 76.8 +4.97 pp
1965 71.83 +5.17 pp
1964 66.66 +1.42 pp
1963 65.24 +1.64 pp
1962 63.6 +0.24 pp
1961 63.36 −1 pp
1960 64.35

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.