Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Southern Asia

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Southern Asia in 2025 — 30.86%. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 18.98 pp.

2025 30.86% +0.15 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 41.82%2008
Period minimum 11.23%1986

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Southern Asia, 1970–2025020406019701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 11.88%1971: 12.73%1972: 12.05%1973: 12.78%1974: 16.97%1975: 19.12%1976: 19.75%1977: 18.71%1978: 18.48%1979: 16.92%1980: 19.17%1981: 18.85%1982: 18.56%1983: 18.18%1984: 16.93%1985: 14.11%1986: 11.23%1987: 14.08%1988: 14.71%1989: 17.3%1990: 19.88%1991: 22.62%1992: 23.69%1993: 26.01%1994: 23.69%1995: 24.15%1996: 24.03%1997: 23.39%1998: 22.16%1999: 22.96%2000: 24.8%2001: 23.59%2002: 25.08%2003: 25.94%2004: 28.52%2005: 32.76%2006: 34.87%2007: 33.07%2008: 41.82%2009: 31.48%2010: 34.48%2011: 38.96%2012: 37.97%2013: 38.12%2014: 36.75%2015: 30.76%2016: 26.91%2017: 28.27%2018: 31.33%2019: 28.65%2020: 24.84%2021: 30.67%2022: 35.06%2023: 30.93%2024: 30.71%2025: 30.86%
Change over the period: +18.98 pp Annual average: 0.35 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Southern Asia 30.86%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 30.86 +0.15 pp
2024 30.71 −0.22 pp
2023 30.93 −4.13 pp
2022 35.06 +4.39 pp
2021 30.67 +5.83 pp
2020 24.84 −3.81 pp
2019 28.65 −2.68 pp
2018 31.33 +3.06 pp
2017 28.27 +1.35 pp
2016 26.91 −3.85 pp
2015 30.76 −5.99 pp
2014 36.75 −1.37 pp
2013 38.12 +0.15 pp
2012 37.97 −0.98 pp
2011 38.96 +4.48 pp
2010 34.48 +3 pp
2009 31.48 −10.34 pp
2008 41.82 +8.75 pp
2007 33.07 −1.79 pp
2006 34.87 +2.11 pp
2005 32.76 +4.24 pp
2004 28.52 +2.58 pp
2003 25.94 +0.86 pp
2002 25.08 +1.49 pp
2001 23.59 −1.21 pp
2000 24.8 +1.84 pp
1999 22.96 +0.81 pp
1998 22.16 −1.23 pp
1997 23.39 −0.64 pp
1996 24.03 −0.11 pp
1995 24.15 +0.46 pp
1994 23.69 −2.32 pp
1993 26.01 +2.33 pp
1992 23.69 +1.06 pp
1991 22.62 +2.75 pp
1990 19.88 +2.58 pp
1989 17.3 +2.6 pp
1988 14.71 +0.63 pp
1987 14.08 +2.84 pp
1986 11.23 −2.88 pp
1985 14.11 −2.82 pp
1984 16.93 −1.24 pp
1983 18.18 −0.38 pp
1982 18.56 −0.29 pp
1981 18.85 −0.32 pp
1980 19.17 +2.24 pp
1979 16.92 −1.56 pp
1978 18.48 −0.23 pp
1977 18.71 −1.04 pp
1976 19.75 +0.63 pp
1975 19.12 +2.15 pp
1974 16.97 +4.18 pp
1973 12.78 +0.73 pp
1972 12.05 −0.68 pp
1971 12.73 +0.85 pp
1970 11.88

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.