Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Eastern Asia

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Eastern Asia in 2025 — 41.12%. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 13.81 pp.

2025 41.12% +0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 51.43%2008
Period minimum 21.06%1986

Trend over time

1980–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Eastern Asia, 1980–2025203040506019801985199019952000200520102015202020251980: 27.31%1981: 27.6%1982: 27.02%1983: 25.27%1984: 27.18%1985: 26.35%1986: 21.06%1987: 21.08%1988: 21.35%1989: 22.71%1990: 23.69%1991: 23.05%1992: 23.11%1993: 22.22%1994: 22.71%1995: 23.81%1996: 25.67%1997: 28.03%1998: 27.5%1999: 26.41%2000: 29.66%2001: 29.87%2002: 32.1%2003: 35.6%2004: 40.35%2005: 44.01%2006: 49.05%2007: 51.36%2008: 51.43%2009: 40.16%2010: 45.94%2011: 47.49%2012: 46.13%2013: 47.42%2014: 45.81%2015: 41.08%2016: 37.37%2017: 39.06%2018: 39.29%2019: 37.24%2020: 36.11%2021: 39.55%2022: 42.58%2023: 40.03%2024: 40.83%2025: 41.12%
Change over the period: +13.81 pp Annual average: 0.31 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Eastern Asia 41.12%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Eastern Asia, by year Eastern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 41.12 +0.3 pp
2024 40.83 +0.8 pp
2023 40.03 −2.55 pp
2022 42.58 +3.03 pp
2021 39.55 +3.45 pp
2020 36.11 −1.13 pp
2019 37.24 −2.05 pp
2018 39.29 +0.23 pp
2017 39.06 +1.69 pp
2016 37.37 −3.71 pp
2015 41.08 −4.73 pp
2014 45.81 −1.61 pp
2013 47.42 +1.29 pp
2012 46.13 −1.36 pp
2011 47.49 +1.55 pp
2010 45.94 +5.78 pp
2009 40.16 −11.27 pp
2008 51.43 +0.07 pp
2007 51.36 +2.31 pp
2006 49.05 +5.04 pp
2005 44.01 +3.66 pp
2004 40.35 +4.76 pp
2003 35.6 +3.5 pp
2002 32.1 +2.23 pp
2001 29.87 +0.21 pp
2000 29.66 +3.25 pp
1999 26.41 −1.09 pp
1998 27.5 −0.53 pp
1997 28.03 +2.36 pp
1996 25.67 +1.85 pp
1995 23.81 +1.11 pp
1994 22.71 +0.49 pp
1993 22.22 −0.89 pp
1992 23.11 +0.06 pp
1991 23.05 −0.64 pp
1990 23.69 +0.98 pp
1989 22.71 +1.36 pp
1988 21.35 +0.27 pp
1987 21.08 +0.02 pp
1986 21.06 −5.29 pp
1985 26.35 −0.83 pp
1984 27.18 +1.91 pp
1983 25.27 −1.75 pp
1982 27.02 −0.58 pp
1981 27.6 +0.3 pp
1980 27.31

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.