Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Asia

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Western Asia in 2025 — 46.07%. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 12.38 pp.

2025 46.07% −21.12 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 73.91%2012
Period minimum 33.69%1970

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Asia, 1970–20252040608019701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 33.69%1971: 42.55%1972: 41.15%1973: 45.94%1974: 61.22%1975: 56.43%1976: 57.73%1977: 58.08%1978: 56.33%1979: 58.96%1980: 69.81%1981: 70.27%1982: 65.31%1983: 56.27%1984: 54.24%1985: 49.96%1986: 43.29%1987: 44.4%1988: 45.22%1989: 46.79%1990: 36.62%1991: 47.05%1992: 49.13%1993: 47.4%1994: 49.84%1995: 46.55%1996: 50.41%1997: 49.95%1998: 45.59%1999: 47.52%2000: 52.97%2001: 55.48%2002: 55.73%2003: 58.46%2004: 63.84%2005: 65.66%2006: 67.17%2007: 69.26%2008: 73.85%2009: 64.93%2010: 65.35%2011: 72.02%2012: 73.91%2013: 72.23%2014: 68.9%2015: 63.47%2016: 59.22%2017: 61.15%2018: 64.38%2019: 63.99%2020: 61.05%2021: 66.95%2022: 72.58%2023: 69.19%2024: 67.18%2025: 46.07%
Change over the period: +12.38 pp Annual average: 0.23 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Western Asia 46.07%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Asia, by year Western Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 46.07 −21.12 pp
2024 67.18 −2.01 pp
2023 69.19 −3.38 pp
2022 72.58 +5.63 pp
2021 66.95 +5.9 pp
2020 61.05 −2.94 pp
2019 63.99 −0.39 pp
2018 64.38 +3.23 pp
2017 61.15 +1.93 pp
2016 59.22 −4.25 pp
2015 63.47 −5.43 pp
2014 68.9 −3.33 pp
2013 72.23 −1.68 pp
2012 73.91 +1.88 pp
2011 72.02 +6.68 pp
2010 65.35 +0.41 pp
2009 64.93 −8.92 pp
2008 73.85 +4.59 pp
2007 69.26 +2.09 pp
2006 67.17 +1.51 pp
2005 65.66 +1.83 pp
2004 63.84 +5.38 pp
2003 58.46 +2.73 pp
2002 55.73 +0.25 pp
2001 55.48 +2.51 pp
2000 52.97 +5.46 pp
1999 47.52 +1.93 pp
1998 45.59 −4.36 pp
1997 49.95 −0.46 pp
1996 50.41 +3.86 pp
1995 46.55 −3.29 pp
1994 49.84 +2.44 pp
1993 47.4 −1.73 pp
1992 49.13 +2.08 pp
1991 47.05 +10.43 pp
1990 36.62 −10.17 pp
1989 46.79 +1.57 pp
1988 45.22 +0.81 pp
1987 44.4 +1.11 pp
1986 43.29 −6.67 pp
1985 49.96 −4.28 pp
1984 54.24 −2.03 pp
1983 56.27 −9.04 pp
1982 65.31 −4.96 pp
1981 70.27 +0.46 pp
1980 69.81 +10.85 pp
1979 58.96 +2.63 pp
1978 56.33 −1.75 pp
1977 58.08 +0.35 pp
1976 57.73 +1.31 pp
1975 56.43 −4.8 pp
1974 61.22 +15.29 pp
1973 45.94 +4.79 pp
1972 41.15 −1.41 pp
1971 42.55 +8.87 pp
1970 33.69

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.