Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — United Kingdom

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 37.59%. Ranked 144 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 5.3 pp.

2025 37.59% +1.21 pp vs 2024
World rank 144of 189
Period maximum 45.26%1977
Period minimum 28.55%1967

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — United Kingdom, 1960–202525303540455019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 32.28%1962: 29.95%1964: 30.55%1966: 28.95%1968: 31.94%1970: 31.61%1972: 30.39%1974: 44.82%1976: 43.46%1978: 42.78%1980: 39.95%1982: 38.18%1984: 43.04%1986: 38.81%1988: 36.75%1990: 37.34%1992: 34.89%1994: 38.51%1996: 38.3%1998: 35.84%2000: 37.26%2002: 35.84%2004: 33.73%2006: 39.32%2008: 38.91%2010: 40.55%2012: 43.45%2014: 39.05%2016: 38.7%2018: 40%2020: 38.1%2022: 43.06%2024: 36.38%2025: 37.59%
Change over the period: +5.3 pp Annual average: 0.08 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

United Kingdom 37.59%
World 43.89%
Northern Europe computed 47.62%
High-income countries computed 44.15%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 37.59 +1.21 pp
2024 36.38 −2.11 pp
2023 38.49 −4.57 pp
2022 43.06 +6.52 pp
2021 36.54 −1.56 pp
2020 38.1 −2.11 pp
2019 40.21 +0.2 pp
2018 40 −0.08 pp
2017 40.09 +1.39 pp
2016 38.7 +1.5 pp
2015 37.2 −1.85 pp
2014 39.05 −4.17 pp
2013 43.22 −0.22 pp
2012 43.45 −1.08 pp
2011 44.53 +3.97 pp
2010 40.55 +4.29 pp
2009 36.27 −2.65 pp
2008 38.91 +3.76 pp
2007 35.15 −4.17 pp
2006 39.32 +3.45 pp
2005 35.88 +2.15 pp
2004 33.73 −0.39 pp
2003 34.12 −1.72 pp
2002 35.84 −1.33 pp
2001 37.17 −0.09 pp
2000 37.26 +2 pp
1999 35.26 −0.58 pp
1998 35.84 −1.63 pp
1997 37.46 −0.83 pp
1996 38.3 +0.85 pp
1995 37.45 −1.06 pp
1994 38.51 +1.7 pp
1993 36.81 +1.92 pp
1992 34.89 +0.33 pp
1991 34.56 −2.78 pp
1990 37.34 −0.43 pp
1989 37.77 +1.02 pp
1988 36.75 −1.58 pp
1987 38.34 −0.47 pp
1986 38.81 −4.15 pp
1985 42.96 −0.07 pp
1984 43.04 +3.88 pp
1983 39.15 +0.98 pp
1982 38.18 +0.28 pp
1981 37.9 −2.05 pp
1980 39.95 −2.42 pp
1979 42.37 −0.41 pp
1978 42.78 −2.47 pp
1977 45.26 +1.79 pp
1976 43.46 +3.44 pp
1975 40.03 −4.79 pp
1974 44.82 +9.42 pp
1973 35.4 +5.02 pp
1972 30.39 −0.64 pp
1971 31.03 −0.58 pp
1970 31.61 −0.68 pp
1969 32.29 +0.35 pp
1968 31.94 +3.39 pp
1967 28.55 −0.4 pp
1966 28.95 −0.45 pp
1965 29.4 −1.15 pp
1964 30.55 +0.26 pp
1963 30.3 +0.35 pp
1962 29.95 −0.67 pp
1961 30.62 −1.67 pp
1960 32.28

Northern Europe, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.