Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Africa

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Western Africa in 2025 — 43.23%. Since 1961, the indicator has risen by 11.31 pp.

2025 43.23% +0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 55.7%1980
Period minimum 15.33%1998

Trend over time

1961–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Africa, 1961–2025020406019611968197519821989199620032010201720241961: 31.92%1963: 28.33%1965: 30.62%1967: 30.33%1969: 30.77%1971: 31.61%1973: 32.85%1975: 43.6%1977: 54.16%1979: 49.17%1981: 26.31%1983: 25.9%1985: 28.32%1987: 29%1989: 35.79%1991: 34.39%1993: 33.39%1995: 22.78%1997: 18.45%1999: 39.32%2001: 40.79%2003: 36.19%2005: 43.01%2007: 39.19%2009: 35.26%2011: 45.06%2013: 34.83%2015: 27.15%2017: 29.68%2019: 25.09%2021: 26.02%2023: 32.34%2025: 43.23%
Change over the period: +11.31 pp Annual average: 0.18 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Africa

Western Africa 43.23%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 43.23 +0.4 pp
2024 42.83 +10.49 pp
2023 32.34 +2.86 pp
2022 29.48 +3.46 pp
2021 26.02 +4.08 pp
2020 21.94 −3.15 pp
2019 25.09 −6.95 pp
2018 32.05 +2.37 pp
2017 29.68 +3.61 pp
2016 26.06 −1.09 pp
2015 27.15 −6.7 pp
2014 33.85 −0.98 pp
2013 34.83 −6.86 pp
2012 41.69 −3.37 pp
2011 45.06 +5.96 pp
2010 39.1 +3.84 pp
2009 35.26 −7.18 pp
2008 42.44 +3.25 pp
2007 39.19 +0.33 pp
2006 38.86 −4.15 pp
2005 43.01 +2.34 pp
2004 40.67 +4.48 pp
2003 36.19 +3.77 pp
2002 32.42 −8.37 pp
2001 40.79 −2.16 pp
2000 42.95 +3.62 pp
1999 39.32 +23.99 pp
1998 15.33 −3.12 pp
1997 18.45 −0.46 pp
1996 18.92 −3.86 pp
1995 22.78 −5.12 pp
1994 27.9 −5.49 pp
1993 33.39 −4.38 pp
1992 37.76 +3.38 pp
1991 34.39 −2.28 pp
1990 36.67 +0.88 pp
1989 35.79 +6.48 pp
1988 29.31 +0.3 pp
1987 29 +2.56 pp
1986 26.44 −1.88 pp
1985 28.32 −0.16 pp
1984 28.48 +2.58 pp
1983 25.9 +3.13 pp
1982 22.77 −3.54 pp
1981 26.31 −29.39 pp
1980 55.7 +6.53 pp
1979 49.17 −2.34 pp
1978 51.51 −2.65 pp
1977 54.16 +7.9 pp
1976 46.26 +2.66 pp
1975 43.6 −0.2 pp
1974 43.8 +10.96 pp
1973 32.85 +4.03 pp
1972 28.81 −2.8 pp
1971 31.61 +7.86 pp
1970 23.75 −7.02 pp
1969 30.77 +0.57 pp
1968 30.2 −0.14 pp
1967 30.33 +1.74 pp
1966 28.59 −2.04 pp
1965 30.62 +0.49 pp
1964 30.14 +1.8 pp
1963 28.33 −0.3 pp
1962 28.63 −3.29 pp
1961 31.92

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.