Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — World

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in the world in 2025 — 43.89%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 26.36 pp.

2025 43.89% −0.41 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 50.98%2008
Period minimum 16.98%1962

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — World, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 17.52%1962: 16.98%1964: 17.55%1966: 17.8%1968: 18.24%1970: 19.83%1972: 20.44%1974: 29.4%1976: 28.6%1978: 28.26%1980: 33.94%1982: 30.69%1984: 30.04%1986: 26.84%1988: 28.63%1990: 29.95%1992: 29.24%1994: 30.36%1996: 33.27%1998: 34.28%2000: 38.65%2002: 37.63%2004: 42.34%2006: 47.34%2008: 50.98%2010: 46.09%2012: 48.99%2014: 47.55%2016: 41.92%2018: 45.15%2020: 41.19%2022: 49.32%2024: 44.3%2025: 43.89%
Change over the period: +26.36 pp Annual average: 0.41 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

World 43.89%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 43.89 −0.41 pp
2024 44.3 −0.72 pp
2023 45.03 −4.29 pp
2022 49.32 +3.77 pp
2021 45.54 +4.35 pp
2020 41.19 −2.05 pp
2019 43.24 −1.91 pp
2018 45.15 +1.59 pp
2017 43.56 +1.64 pp
2016 41.92 −2.06 pp
2015 43.98 −3.57 pp
2014 47.55 −1.09 pp
2013 48.64 −0.35 pp
2012 48.99 −0.56 pp
2011 49.55 +3.47 pp
2010 46.09 +4.44 pp
2009 41.64 −9.34 pp
2008 50.98 +2.48 pp
2007 48.5 +1.16 pp
2006 47.34 +2.74 pp
2005 44.6 +2.27 pp
2004 42.34 +3.14 pp
2003 39.2 +1.57 pp
2002 37.63 +0.21 pp
2001 37.43 −1.22 pp
2000 38.65 +3.31 pp
1999 35.34 +1.07 pp
1998 34.28 −0.3 pp
1997 34.57 +1.3 pp
1996 33.27 +0.85 pp
1995 32.42 +2.06 pp
1994 30.36 +1.68 pp
1993 28.69 −0.55 pp
1992 29.24 −0.19 pp
1991 29.43 −0.52 pp
1990 29.95 +0.32 pp
1989 29.64 +1.01 pp
1988 28.63 +0.79 pp
1987 27.84 +1 pp
1986 26.84 −2.1 pp
1985 28.94 −1.09 pp
1984 30.04 +0.87 pp
1983 29.17 −1.52 pp
1982 30.69 −1.92 pp
1981 32.61 −1.33 pp
1980 33.94 +2.98 pp
1979 30.96 +2.7 pp
1978 28.26 −0.59 pp
1977 28.85 +0.25 pp
1976 28.6 +1.18 pp
1975 27.42 −1.98 pp
1974 29.4 +6.27 pp
1973 23.12 +2.69 pp
1972 20.44 +0.39 pp
1971 20.04 +0.21 pp
1970 19.83 +1 pp
1969 18.83 +0.59 pp
1968 18.24 +0.62 pp
1967 17.62 −0.18 pp
1966 17.8 +0.25 pp
1965 17.55 −0 pp
1964 17.55 +0.39 pp
1963 17.16 +0.18 pp
1962 16.98 −0.25 pp
1961 17.23 −0.29 pp
1960 17.52

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.