Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Europe

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Western Europe in 2025 — 76.24%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 47.26 pp.

2025 76.24% +0.43 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 90.33%2022
Period minimum 27.55%1962

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Europe, 1960–2025025507510019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 28.97%1962: 27.55%1964: 28.5%1966: 29.23%1968: 30.24%1970: 33.49%1972: 33.2%1974: 41.44%1976: 40.85%1978: 39.56%1980: 43.5%1982: 44.84%1984: 47.3%1986: 42.71%1988: 42.8%1990: 45.1%1992: 41.6%1994: 41.31%1996: 44.15%1998: 49.83%2000: 63.71%2002: 61.56%2004: 64.3%2006: 72.34%2008: 75.61%2010: 71.34%2012: 78.8%2014: 75.05%2016: 73.85%2018: 77.38%2020: 71.93%2022: 90.33%2024: 75.81%2025: 76.24%
Change over the period: +47.26 pp Annual average: 0.73 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Western Europe 76.24%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 76.24 +0.43 pp
2024 75.81 −4.74 pp
2023 80.55 −9.78 pp
2022 90.33 +11.5 pp
2021 78.83 +6.9 pp
2020 71.93 −4.31 pp
2019 76.24 −1.14 pp
2018 77.38 +1.09 pp
2017 76.3 +2.44 pp
2016 73.85 −1.31 pp
2015 75.16 +0.12 pp
2014 75.05 −2.35 pp
2013 77.4 −1.4 pp
2012 78.8 +2.77 pp
2011 76.04 +4.7 pp
2010 71.34 +7.14 pp
2009 64.2 −11.41 pp
2008 75.61 +1.62 pp
2007 73.98 +1.65 pp
2006 72.34 +4.14 pp
2005 68.2 +3.9 pp
2004 64.3 +3.07 pp
2003 61.23 −0.33 pp
2002 61.56 −1.62 pp
2001 63.18 −0.53 pp
2000 63.71 +8.23 pp
1999 55.48 +5.64 pp
1998 49.83 +1.49 pp
1997 48.34 +4.19 pp
1996 44.15 +1.17 pp
1995 42.98 +1.67 pp
1994 41.31 +2.34 pp
1993 38.97 −2.63 pp
1992 41.6 −2.43 pp
1991 44.03 −1.07 pp
1990 45.1 −0.42 pp
1989 45.53 +2.72 pp
1988 42.8 +1.02 pp
1987 41.78 −0.93 pp
1986 42.71 −5.92 pp
1985 48.63 +1.33 pp
1984 47.3 +3.01 pp
1983 44.29 −0.54 pp
1982 44.84 −0.46 pp
1981 45.29 +1.8 pp
1980 43.5 +1.54 pp
1979 41.95 +2.39 pp
1978 39.56 −1.48 pp
1977 41.04 +0.2 pp
1976 40.85 +3.35 pp
1975 37.49 −3.95 pp
1974 41.44 +6.22 pp
1973 35.22 +2.02 pp
1972 33.2 −0.07 pp
1971 33.28 −0.21 pp
1970 33.49 +1.17 pp
1969 32.31 +2.07 pp
1968 30.24 +1.27 pp
1967 28.97 −0.26 pp
1966 29.23 +0.29 pp
1965 28.95 +0.45 pp
1964 28.5 +0.59 pp
1963 27.9 +0.35 pp
1962 27.55 −0.78 pp
1961 28.34 −0.64 pp
1960 28.97

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.