Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South Asia

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in South Asia in 2025 — 30.04%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 18.51 pp.

2025 30.04% −0.39 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 43.4%2008
Period minimum 7.5%1971

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South Asia, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 11.52%1962: 10.24%1964: 9.49%1966: 13.01%1968: 9.23%1970: 7.62%1972: 7.95%1974: 10.22%1976: 11.87%1978: 12.1%1980: 14.45%1982: 13.62%1984: 13.55%1986: 11.46%1988: 12.45%1990: 14.44%1992: 16.95%1994: 18.38%1996: 20.55%1998: 20.73%2000: 22.76%2002: 22.59%2004: 26.69%2006: 33.32%2008: 43.4%2010: 35%2012: 42.99%2014: 38.75%2016: 27.95%2018: 31.38%2020: 24.47%2022: 35.63%2024: 30.42%2025: 30.04%
Change over the period: +18.51 pp Annual average: 0.28 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South Asia 30.04%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 30.04 −0.39 pp
2024 30.42 −0.62 pp
2023 31.04 −4.58 pp
2022 35.63 +4.72 pp
2021 30.91 +6.43 pp
2020 24.47 −4.42 pp
2019 28.9 −2.48 pp
2018 31.38 +2.59 pp
2017 28.79 +0.84 pp
2016 27.95 −4.23 pp
2015 32.19 −6.56 pp
2014 38.75 −3.2 pp
2013 41.95 −1.04 pp
2012 42.99 +0.53 pp
2011 42.47 +7.46 pp
2010 35 +2.81 pp
2009 32.19 −11.21 pp
2008 43.4 +10.91 pp
2007 32.5 −0.83 pp
2006 33.32 +2.43 pp
2005 30.89 +4.2 pp
2004 26.69 +3.06 pp
2003 23.63 +1.04 pp
2002 22.59 +0.79 pp
2001 21.8 −0.96 pp
2000 22.76 +2.12 pp
1999 20.64 −0.1 pp
1998 20.73 −0.26 pp
1997 20.99 +0.44 pp
1996 20.55 −0.29 pp
1995 20.84 +2.46 pp
1994 18.38 +0.2 pp
1993 18.17 +1.22 pp
1992 16.95 +1.14 pp
1991 15.8 +1.36 pp
1990 14.44 +0.69 pp
1989 13.75 +1.29 pp
1988 12.45 +0.91 pp
1987 11.55 +0.09 pp
1986 11.46 −0.9 pp
1985 12.36 −1.2 pp
1984 13.55 +1.37 pp
1983 12.19 −1.43 pp
1982 13.62 −0.33 pp
1981 13.95 −0.5 pp
1980 14.45 +1.2 pp
1979 13.25 +1.16 pp
1978 12.1 +0.1 pp
1977 11.99 +0.12 pp
1976 11.87 +0.47 pp
1975 11.39 +1.17 pp
1974 10.22 +1.51 pp
1973 8.71 +0.76 pp
1972 7.95 +0.45 pp
1971 7.5 −0.12 pp
1970 7.62 −0.43 pp
1969 8.05 −1.18 pp
1968 9.23 −0.63 pp
1967 9.86 −3.15 pp
1966 13.01 +4.29 pp
1965 8.73 −0.76 pp
1964 9.49 −0.27 pp
1963 9.76 −0.48 pp
1962 10.24 −0.52 pp
1961 10.76 −0.76 pp
1960 11.52

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.