Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Uganda

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Uganda in 2025 — 49.85%. Ranked 103 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 2.14 pp.

2025 49.85% +9.28 pp vs 2024
World rank 103of 189
Period maximum 58.21%1964
Period minimum 10.22%1990

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Uganda, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 51.99%1962: 50.98%1964: 58.21%1966: 41.39%1968: 36.73%1970: 36.04%1972: 29.85%1974: 25.16%1976: 21.9%1978: 24.87%1980: 51.26%1982: 33.34%1984: 20.55%1986: 18.94%1988: 17.79%1990: 10.22%1992: 22.64%1994: 32.18%1996: 29.41%1998: 29.11%2000: 31.31%2002: 24.6%2004: 29.98%2006: 35.27%2008: 43.28%2010: 23.56%2012: 30.77%2014: 25.56%2016: 25.03%2018: 29.81%2020: 32.98%2022: 29.24%2024: 40.57%2025: 49.85%
Change over the period: −2.14 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Uganda 49.85%
World 43.89%
Eastern Africa computed 37.9%
Low-income countries computed 39.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Uganda, by year Uganda All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 49.85 +9.28 pp
2024 40.57 +3.49 pp
2023 37.08 +7.84 pp
2022 29.24 −2.96 pp
2021 32.2 −0.78 pp
2020 32.98 +1.13 pp
2019 31.85 +2.04 pp
2018 29.81 +2.17 pp
2017 27.64 +2.6 pp
2016 25.03 +0.97 pp
2015 24.07 −1.49 pp
2014 25.56 −2.89 pp
2013 28.45 −2.32 pp
2012 30.77 +2.82 pp
2011 27.95 +4.39 pp
2010 23.56 +0.41 pp
2009 23.14 −20.14 pp
2008 43.28 +2.7 pp
2007 40.58 +5.31 pp
2006 35.27 +4.24 pp
2005 31.03 +1.05 pp
2004 29.98 +1.11 pp
2003 28.86 +4.26 pp
2002 24.6 −10.41 pp
2001 35.01 +3.71 pp
2000 31.31 +0.28 pp
1999 31.02 +1.91 pp
1998 29.11 −0.73 pp
1997 29.84 +0.43 pp
1996 29.41 +3.08 pp
1995 26.34 −5.84 pp
1994 32.18 +10.01 pp
1993 22.17 −0.47 pp
1992 22.64 +10.72 pp
1991 11.92 +1.7 pp
1990 10.22 −0.11 pp
1989 10.33 −7.46 pp
1988 17.79 −0.82 pp
1987 18.61 −0.32 pp
1986 18.94 −1.35 pp
1985 20.29 −0.26 pp
1984 20.55 −12.88 pp
1983 33.43 +0.09 pp
1982 33.34 −10.63 pp
1981 43.97 −7.29 pp
1980 51.26 +21.71 pp
1979 29.55 +4.67 pp
1978 24.87 −3.36 pp
1977 28.23 +6.33 pp
1976 21.9 +2.24 pp
1975 19.66 −5.49 pp
1974 25.16 −1.52 pp
1973 26.68 −3.17 pp
1972 29.85 −6.14 pp
1971 35.99 −0.06 pp
1970 36.04 +1.13 pp
1969 34.91 −1.81 pp
1968 36.73 −2.35 pp
1967 39.08 −2.31 pp
1966 41.39 −0.1 pp
1965 41.49 −16.72 pp
1964 58.21 +2.04 pp
1963 56.17 +5.18 pp
1962 50.98 −1.09 pp
1961 52.08 +0.08 pp
1960 51.99

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.