Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South Korea

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in South Korea in 2025 — 71.63%. Ranked 60 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 62.17 pp.

2025 71.63% +1.49 pp vs 2024
World rank 60of 189
Period maximum 82.6%2011
Period minimum 9.46%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South Korea, 1960–2025025507510019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 9.46%1962: 16.91%1964: 15.01%1966: 24.44%1968: 31.13%1970: 31.04%1972: 37.73%1974: 56.97%1976: 54.3%1978: 52.43%1980: 59.81%1982: 57.69%1984: 60.03%1986: 55.27%1988: 54.75%1990: 46.17%1992: 43.17%1994: 41.4%1996: 44.37%1998: 56.78%2000: 55.69%2002: 48.4%2004: 58.1%2006: 57.97%2008: 78.54%2010: 74.75%2012: 79.94%2014: 70.6%2016: 57.1%2018: 62.49%2020: 56.2%2022: 78.64%2024: 70.14%2025: 71.63%
Change over the period: +62.17 pp Annual average: 0.96 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South Korea 71.63%
World 43.89%
Eastern Asia computed 41.12%
High-income countries computed 44.15%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 71.63 +1.49 pp
2024 70.14 +1.04 pp
2023 69.1 −9.53 pp
2022 78.64 +13.79 pp
2021 64.84 +8.65 pp
2020 56.2 −3.51 pp
2019 59.71 −2.78 pp
2018 62.49 +0.97 pp
2017 61.52 +4.43 pp
2016 57.1 −5.49 pp
2015 62.58 −8.02 pp
2014 70.6 −4.35 pp
2013 74.95 −4.99 pp
2012 79.94 −2.66 pp
2011 82.6 +7.85 pp
2010 74.75 +4.9 pp
2009 69.84 −8.69 pp
2008 78.54 +18.88 pp
2007 59.66 +1.69 pp
2006 57.97 +1.82 pp
2005 56.15 −1.95 pp
2004 58.1 +6.95 pp
2003 51.15 +2.75 pp
2002 48.4 −2.97 pp
2001 51.37 −4.33 pp
2000 55.69 +4.61 pp
1999 51.08 −5.7 pp
1998 56.78 +9.13 pp
1997 47.65 +3.29 pp
1996 44.37 −0.01 pp
1995 44.38 +2.98 pp
1994 41.4 +0.47 pp
1993 40.93 −2.25 pp
1992 43.17 −1.83 pp
1991 45 −1.17 pp
1990 46.17 −2.54 pp
1989 48.71 −6.04 pp
1988 54.75 −3.25 pp
1987 58 +2.74 pp
1986 55.27 −3.92 pp
1985 59.19 −0.84 pp
1984 60.03 +3.52 pp
1983 56.5 −1.18 pp
1982 57.69 −6.12 pp
1981 63.8 +3.99 pp
1980 59.81 +7.82 pp
1979 51.99 −0.44 pp
1978 52.43 −0.97 pp
1977 53.4 −0.9 pp
1976 54.3 −0.93 pp
1975 55.22 −1.74 pp
1974 56.97 +3.93 pp
1973 53.04 +15.3 pp
1972 37.73 +3.14 pp
1971 34.59 +3.55 pp
1970 31.04 −0.57 pp
1969 31.61 +0.48 pp
1968 31.13 +4.23 pp
1967 26.9 +2.47 pp
1966 24.44 +4.19 pp
1965 20.25 +5.23 pp
1964 15.01 −1.13 pp
1963 16.14 −0.76 pp
1962 16.91 +2.2 pp
1961 14.71 +5.24 pp
1960 9.46

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.