Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Upper-middle-income countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in upper-middle-income countries in 2025 — 40.45%. Since 1977, the indicator has risen by 16.92 pp.

2025 40.45% −0 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 55.37%2006
Period minimum 23.54%1977

Trend over time

1977–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Upper-middle-income countries, 1977–20252030405060197719821987199219972002200720122017202220251977: 23.54%1978: 24.16%1979: 28.03%1980: 34.14%1981: 32.56%1982: 31.38%1983: 31.53%1984: 31.77%1985: 30.91%1986: 29.69%1987: 31.2%1988: 33.54%1989: 33.41%1990: 30.35%1991: 33.24%1992: 34.33%1993: 33.36%1994: 34.49%1995: 35.82%1996: 35.03%1997: 36.12%1998: 35.24%1999: 38.28%2000: 42.63%2001: 42.04%2002: 45.07%2003: 48.85%2004: 53.58%2005: 54.39%2006: 55.37%2007: 54.04%2008: 53.57%2009: 43.11%2010: 46.47%2011: 47.56%2012: 46.74%2013: 45.32%2014: 43.59%2015: 39.82%2016: 37.29%2017: 38.13%2018: 39.62%2019: 38.11%2020: 37.4%2021: 40.92%2022: 43.66%2023: 40.34%2024: 40.46%2025: 40.45%
Change over the period: +16.92 pp Annual average: 0.35 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Upper-middle-income countries

Upper-middle-income countries 40.45%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Upper-middle-income countries, by year Upper-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 40.45 −0 pp
2024 40.46 +0.12 pp
2023 40.34 −3.32 pp
2022 43.66 +2.74 pp
2021 40.92 +3.52 pp
2020 37.4 −0.72 pp
2019 38.11 −1.51 pp
2018 39.62 +1.49 pp
2017 38.13 +0.84 pp
2016 37.29 −2.53 pp
2015 39.82 −3.77 pp
2014 43.59 −1.74 pp
2013 45.32 −1.41 pp
2012 46.74 −0.83 pp
2011 47.56 +1.09 pp
2010 46.47 +3.36 pp
2009 43.11 −10.46 pp
2008 53.57 −0.47 pp
2007 54.04 −1.33 pp
2006 55.37 +0.98 pp
2005 54.39 +0.8 pp
2004 53.58 +4.73 pp
2003 48.85 +3.78 pp
2002 45.07 +3.03 pp
2001 42.04 −0.59 pp
2000 42.63 +4.35 pp
1999 38.28 +3.04 pp
1998 35.24 −0.88 pp
1997 36.12 +1.09 pp
1996 35.03 −0.79 pp
1995 35.82 +1.33 pp
1994 34.49 +1.14 pp
1993 33.36 −0.97 pp
1992 34.33 +1.09 pp
1991 33.24 +2.89 pp
1990 30.35 −3.06 pp
1989 33.41 −0.13 pp
1988 33.54 +2.34 pp
1987 31.2 +1.51 pp
1986 29.69 −1.22 pp
1985 30.91 −0.86 pp
1984 31.77 +0.24 pp
1983 31.53 +0.15 pp
1982 31.38 −1.18 pp
1981 32.56 −1.57 pp
1980 34.14 +6.1 pp
1979 28.03 +3.87 pp
1978 24.16 +0.62 pp
1977 23.54

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.