Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Sri Lanka

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Sri Lanka in 2025 — 32.22%. Ranked 161 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 24.38 pp.

2025 32.22% +0.48 pp vs 2024
World rank 161of 189
Period maximum 77%1980
Period minimum 27.64%1972

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Sri Lanka, 1960–20252040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 56.6%1962: 50.83%1964: 61.77%1966: 43.22%1968: 38.92%1970: 31.7%1972: 27.64%1974: 34.89%1976: 32.22%1978: 66.37%1980: 77%1982: 60.02%1984: 55.17%1986: 47.96%1988: 53.57%1990: 57.23%1992: 60.81%1994: 68.14%1996: 68.44%1998: 68.16%2000: 70.57%2002: 65.33%2004: 66.45%2006: 60.65%2008: 55.03%2010: 37.71%2012: 40.56%2014: 37.22%2016: 33.51%2018: 36.13%2020: 30.95%2022: 42.35%2024: 31.74%2025: 32.22%
Change over the period: −24.38 pp Annual average: -0.38 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Sri Lanka 32.22%
World 43.89%
South Asia 30.04%
Southern Asia computed 30.86%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Sri Lanka, by year Sri Lanka All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.22 +0.48 pp
2024 31.74 −2.42 pp
2023 34.16 −8.19 pp
2022 42.35 +4.93 pp
2021 37.42 +6.47 pp
2020 30.95 −4.87 pp
2019 35.82 −0.31 pp
2018 36.13 +1.86 pp
2017 34.27 +0.75 pp
2016 33.51 −1.13 pp
2015 34.65 −2.57 pp
2014 37.22 +0.57 pp
2013 36.65 −3.91 pp
2012 40.56 −4.47 pp
2011 45.02 +7.31 pp
2010 37.71 −3.64 pp
2009 41.35 −13.68 pp
2008 55.03 −3.83 pp
2007 58.86 −1.79 pp
2006 60.65 −1.55 pp
2005 62.2 −4.25 pp
2004 66.45 +3.97 pp
2003 62.48 −2.86 pp
2002 65.33 −3.17 pp
2001 68.5 −2.06 pp
2000 70.57 +3.97 pp
1999 66.6 −1.56 pp
1998 68.16 −1.27 pp
1997 69.43 +0.99 pp
1996 68.44 −0.51 pp
1995 68.94 +0.81 pp
1994 68.14 +1.88 pp
1993 66.26 +5.45 pp
1992 60.81 +4.8 pp
1991 56.01 −1.22 pp
1990 57.23 +3.8 pp
1989 53.43 −0.14 pp
1988 53.57 +1.92 pp
1987 51.64 +3.68 pp
1986 47.96 −5.16 pp
1985 53.12 −2.04 pp
1984 55.17 −0.62 pp
1983 55.79 −4.23 pp
1982 60.02 −6.49 pp
1981 66.51 −10.49 pp
1980 77 +4.27 pp
1979 72.73 +6.36 pp
1978 66.37 +30.77 pp
1977 35.59 +3.38 pp
1976 32.22 −4.31 pp
1975 36.53 +1.65 pp
1974 34.89 +5.67 pp
1973 29.21 +1.57 pp
1972 27.64 −1.82 pp
1971 29.46 −2.24 pp
1970 31.7 −6.05 pp
1969 37.75 −1.17 pp
1968 38.92 +0.57 pp
1967 38.34 −4.88 pp
1966 43.22 +0.88 pp
1965 42.34 −19.43 pp
1964 61.77 +7.2 pp
1963 54.57 +3.74 pp
1962 50.83 −0.27 pp
1961 51.1 −5.5 pp
1960 56.6

Southern 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.