Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — United States

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in the United States in 2025 — 18.5%. Ranked 187 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 11.86 pp.

2025 18.5% −0 pp vs 2024
World rank 187of 189
Period maximum 24.03%2011
Period minimum 6.42%1962

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — United States, 1960–2025010203019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 6.64%1962: 6.42%1964: 6.72%1966: 7.03%1968: 7.38%1970: 7.98%1972: 8.45%1974: 13.58%1976: 13.31%1978: 14.11%1980: 16.89%1982: 14.1%1984: 14.13%1986: 13.31%1988: 14.93%1990: 15.27%1992: 15.37%1994: 16.49%1996: 17.92%1998: 17.95%2000: 19.91%2002: 17.32%2004: 19.16%2006: 21.31%2008: 23.41%2010: 21.58%2012: 23.88%2014: 22.9%2016: 19.68%2018: 20.71%2020: 17.93%2022: 20.87%2024: 18.5%2025: 18.5%
Change over the period: +11.86 pp Annual average: 0.18 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

United States 18.5%
World 43.89%
North America 20.62%
High-income countries computed 44.15%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.5 −0 pp
2024 18.5 −0.15 pp
2023 18.65 −2.22 pp
2022 20.87 +1.1 pp
2021 19.77 +1.84 pp
2020 17.93 −1.62 pp
2019 19.55 −1.16 pp
2018 20.71 +0.55 pp
2017 20.16 +0.48 pp
2016 19.68 −1.19 pp
2015 20.87 −2.04 pp
2014 22.9 −0.25 pp
2013 23.15 −0.73 pp
2012 23.88 −0.14 pp
2011 24.03 +2.45 pp
2010 21.58 +3.2 pp
2009 18.38 −5.02 pp
2008 23.41 +1.51 pp
2007 21.89 +0.58 pp
2006 21.31 +1.11 pp
2005 20.2 +1.04 pp
2004 19.16 +1.46 pp
2003 17.7 +0.38 pp
2002 17.32 −0.71 pp
2001 18.03 −1.88 pp
2000 19.91 +1.69 pp
1999 18.22 +0.28 pp
1998 17.95 −0.57 pp
1997 18.52 +0.59 pp
1996 17.92 +0.18 pp
1995 17.74 +1.25 pp
1994 16.49 +0.92 pp
1993 15.57 +0.21 pp
1992 15.37 +0.27 pp
1991 15.1 −0.17 pp
1990 15.27 +0.08 pp
1989 15.19 +0.25 pp
1988 14.93 +0.96 pp
1987 13.98 +0.67 pp
1986 13.31 +0.14 pp
1985 13.17 −0.96 pp
1984 14.13 +1.04 pp
1983 13.09 −1.01 pp
1982 14.1 −1.87 pp
1981 15.97 −0.92 pp
1980 16.89 +1.34 pp
1979 15.55 +1.44 pp
1978 14.11 +0.49 pp
1977 13.62 +0.32 pp
1976 13.31 +0.56 pp
1975 12.74 −0.84 pp
1974 13.58 +3.45 pp
1973 10.13 +1.68 pp
1972 8.45 +0.56 pp
1971 7.89 −0.09 pp
1970 7.98 +0.55 pp
1969 7.43 +0.05 pp
1968 7.38 +0.44 pp
1967 6.94 −0.08 pp
1966 7.03 +0.3 pp
1965 6.72 +0 pp
1964 6.72 +0.28 pp
1963 6.44 +0.02 pp
1962 6.42 −0.01 pp
1961 6.43 −0.21 pp
1960 6.64

Northern America, 2025

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

CA Canada 48.8 US United States 18.5

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.