Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Central America

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Central America in 2025 — 69.64%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 51.92 pp.

2025 69.64% +3.02 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 78.81%2022
Period minimum 14.52%1972

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Central America, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 17.72%1962: 16.83%1964: 16.45%1966: 16.66%1968: 15.86%1970: 15.77%1972: 14.52%1974: 18.23%1976: 16.35%1978: 19.73%1980: 22.85%1982: 24.75%1984: 26.45%1986: 30.34%1988: 33.53%1990: 33.46%1992: 31.63%1994: 27.41%1996: 44.21%1998: 45.62%2000: 47.79%2002: 43.01%2004: 49.47%2006: 53.28%2008: 55.59%2010: 57.11%2012: 62.11%2014: 60.19%2016: 66.45%2018: 70.47%2020: 67.8%2022: 78.81%2024: 66.61%2025: 69.64%
Change over the period: +51.92 pp Annual average: 0.8 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Central America 69.64%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Central America, by year Central America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 69.64 +3.02 pp
2024 66.61 +0.33 pp
2023 66.29 −12.52 pp
2022 78.81 +4.76 pp
2021 74.06 +6.26 pp
2020 67.8 +0.01 pp
2019 67.8 −2.67 pp
2018 70.47 +2.79 pp
2017 67.68 +1.22 pp
2016 66.45 +2.71 pp
2015 63.74 +3.55 pp
2014 60.19 +0.53 pp
2013 59.66 −2.44 pp
2012 62.11 +1.78 pp
2011 60.33 +3.22 pp
2010 57.11 +4.81 pp
2009 52.3 −3.29 pp
2008 55.59 +1.49 pp
2007 54.1 +0.82 pp
2006 53.28 +2.06 pp
2005 51.23 +1.75 pp
2004 49.47 +3.13 pp
2003 46.34 +3.33 pp
2002 43.01 −0.01 pp
2001 43.03 −4.76 pp
2000 47.79 +1.62 pp
1999 46.17 +0.55 pp
1998 45.62 +1.77 pp
1997 43.86 −0.36 pp
1996 44.21 +2.69 pp
1995 41.53 +14.11 pp
1994 27.41 +3.09 pp
1993 24.32 −7.31 pp
1992 31.63 +0.46 pp
1991 31.17 −2.29 pp
1990 33.46 +0.21 pp
1989 33.24 −0.29 pp
1988 33.53 +0.89 pp
1987 32.64 +2.3 pp
1986 30.34 +5.31 pp
1985 25.03 −1.42 pp
1984 26.45 −0.01 pp
1983 26.46 +1.71 pp
1982 24.75 +2.66 pp
1981 22.09 −0.75 pp
1980 22.85 +2.1 pp
1979 20.74 +1.01 pp
1978 19.73 +0.44 pp
1977 19.29 +2.95 pp
1976 16.35 +0.41 pp
1975 15.94 −2.29 pp
1974 18.23 +2.39 pp
1973 15.84 +1.33 pp
1972 14.52 −0.2 pp
1971 14.72 −1.05 pp
1970 15.77 +0.38 pp
1969 15.39 −0.46 pp
1968 15.86 −0.15 pp
1967 16 −0.65 pp
1966 16.66 −0.78 pp
1965 17.44 +0.98 pp
1964 16.45 −0.33 pp
1963 16.79 −0.05 pp
1962 16.83 +0.14 pp
1961 16.7 −1.02 pp
1960 17.72

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.