Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South America

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in South America in 2025 — 32.11%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 9.62 pp.

2025 32.11% +0.28 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 37.09%2022
Period minimum 17.25%1966

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South America, 1960–202515202530354019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 22.49%1962: 20.57%1964: 18.09%1966: 17.25%1968: 17.92%1970: 18.53%1972: 17.8%1974: 22.83%1976: 21.88%1978: 20.19%1980: 26.8%1982: 21.39%1984: 22.77%1986: 18.4%1988: 20.6%1990: 19.87%1992: 21.21%1994: 20.03%1996: 19.08%1998: 19.54%2000: 23.45%2002: 28.95%2004: 32.69%2006: 32.31%2008: 32.81%2010: 25.71%2012: 28.34%2014: 27.7%2016: 24.48%2018: 28.41%2020: 30.07%2022: 37.09%2024: 31.83%2025: 32.11%
Change over the period: +9.62 pp Annual average: 0.15 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South America 32.11%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.11 +0.28 pp
2024 31.83 +0.68 pp
2023 31.15 −5.94 pp
2022 37.09 +1.31 pp
2021 35.79 +5.71 pp
2020 30.07 +1.98 pp
2019 28.1 −0.32 pp
2018 28.41 +3.99 pp
2017 24.42 −0.05 pp
2016 24.48 −2.55 pp
2015 27.03 −0.67 pp
2014 27.7 −0.98 pp
2013 28.68 +0.35 pp
2012 28.34 −0.02 pp
2011 28.36 +2.65 pp
2010 25.71 +0.28 pp
2009 25.43 −7.38 pp
2008 32.81 +1.2 pp
2007 31.61 −0.7 pp
2006 32.31 +0.12 pp
2005 32.19 −0.5 pp
2004 32.69 +2.77 pp
2003 29.92 +0.97 pp
2002 28.95 +4 pp
2001 24.95 +1.51 pp
2000 23.45 +1.65 pp
1999 21.79 +2.25 pp
1998 19.54 −0.75 pp
1997 20.29 +1.21 pp
1996 19.08 −0.05 pp
1995 19.13 −0.9 pp
1994 20.03 −1.23 pp
1993 21.26 +0.05 pp
1992 21.21 +1.12 pp
1991 20.09 +0.22 pp
1990 19.87 −0.25 pp
1989 20.12 −0.48 pp
1988 20.6 +1.3 pp
1987 19.3 +0.9 pp
1986 18.4 −4.07 pp
1985 22.46 −0.31 pp
1984 22.77 +1.49 pp
1983 21.29 −0.1 pp
1982 21.39 −4.01 pp
1981 25.4 −1.4 pp
1980 26.8 +2.7 pp
1979 24.1 +3.91 pp
1978 20.19 −2.05 pp
1977 22.23 +0.36 pp
1976 21.88 −0.69 pp
1975 22.57 −0.26 pp
1974 22.83 +4.95 pp
1973 17.88 +0.08 pp
1972 17.8 +0.24 pp
1971 17.56 −0.97 pp
1970 18.53 +0.59 pp
1969 17.94 +0.02 pp
1968 17.92 −0.22 pp
1967 18.14 +0.89 pp
1966 17.25 −0.3 pp
1965 17.55 −0.54 pp
1964 18.09 −0.77 pp
1963 18.86 −1.71 pp
1962 20.57 −0.29 pp
1961 20.86 −1.63 pp
1960 22.49

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.