Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Northern America

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Northern America in 2024 — 20.78%. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 1.21 pp.

2024 20.78% −0.3 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 26.81%2011
Period minimum 15.53%1983

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Northern America, 1980–20241520253019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 19.57%1981: 18.64%1982: 16.43%1983: 15.53%1984: 16.81%1985: 15.79%1986: 15.84%1987: 16.44%1988: 17.61%1989: 17.7%1990: 17.71%1991: 17.46%1992: 17.8%1993: 18.19%1994: 19.35%1995: 20.82%1996: 20.96%1997: 21.7%1998: 21.11%1999: 21.47%2000: 23.31%2001: 21.16%2002: 20.3%2003: 20.61%2004: 22.18%2005: 23.34%2006: 24.39%2007: 24.96%2008: 26.54%2009: 20.86%2010: 24.22%2011: 26.81%2012: 26.62%2013: 25.86%2014: 25.67%2015: 23.46%2016: 22.15%2017: 22.66%2018: 23.23%2019: 22%2020: 20.16%2021: 22.16%2022: 23.44%2023: 21.08%2024: 20.78%
Change over the period: +1.21 pp Annual average: 0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Northern America 20.78%
World 44.3%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Northern America, by year Northern America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 20.78 −0.3 pp
2023 21.08 −2.36 pp
2022 23.44 +1.29 pp
2021 22.16 +2 pp
2020 20.16 −1.84 pp
2019 22 −1.23 pp
2018 23.23 +0.57 pp
2017 22.66 +0.51 pp
2016 22.15 −1.31 pp
2015 23.46 −2.21 pp
2014 25.67 −0.18 pp
2013 25.86 −0.76 pp
2012 26.62 −0.19 pp
2011 26.81 +2.58 pp
2010 24.22 +3.36 pp
2009 20.86 −5.68 pp
2008 26.54 +1.58 pp
2007 24.96 +0.57 pp
2006 24.39 +1.05 pp
2005 23.34 +1.16 pp
2004 22.18 +1.57 pp
2003 20.61 +0.31 pp
2002 20.3 −0.86 pp
2001 21.16 −2.15 pp
2000 23.31 +1.83 pp
1999 21.47 +0.37 pp
1998 21.11 −0.59 pp
1997 21.7 +0.74 pp
1996 20.96 +0.14 pp
1995 20.82 +1.46 pp
1994 19.35 +1.17 pp
1993 18.19 +0.39 pp
1992 17.8 +0.33 pp
1991 17.46 −0.25 pp
1990 17.71 +0.02 pp
1989 17.7 +0.08 pp
1988 17.61 +1.17 pp
1987 16.44 +0.6 pp
1986 15.84 +0.05 pp
1985 15.79 −1.02 pp
1984 16.81 +1.28 pp
1983 15.53 −0.9 pp
1982 16.43 −2.21 pp
1981 18.64 −0.93 pp
1980 19.57

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.