Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Zimbabwe

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Zimbabwe in 2025 — 38.7%. Ranked 142 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 1.64 pp.

2025 38.7% −2.08 pp vs 2024
World rank 142of 189
Period maximum 105.44%2007
Period minimum 16.74%2017

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Zimbabwe, 1960–202505010015019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 40.34%1962: 40.07%1964: 60.27%1966: 43.12%1968: 40.26%1970: 39.68%1972: 37.06%1974: 43.37%1976: 36.89%1978: 36.13%1980: 42.83%1982: 34.11%1984: 35.45%1986: 39.13%1988: 37.64%1990: 40.66%1992: 54%1994: 59.83%1996: 60.87%1998: 75.13%2000: 56.59%2002: 59.3%2004: 70.43%2006: 75.77%2008: 93.25%2010: 70.85%2012: 63.19%2014: 50.94%2016: 42.18%2018: 30.6%2020: 31.39%2022: 37.39%2024: 40.78%2025: 38.7%
Change over the period: −1.64 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Zimbabwe 38.7%
World 43.89%
Eastern Africa computed 37.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Zimbabwe, by year Zimbabwe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 38.7 −2.08 pp
2024 40.78 −5.05 pp
2023 45.83 +8.44 pp
2022 37.39 +4.42 pp
2021 32.97 +1.58 pp
2020 31.39 +4.15 pp
2019 27.24 −3.37 pp
2018 30.6 +13.86 pp
2017 16.74 −25.43 pp
2016 42.18 −4.39 pp
2015 46.57 −4.37 pp
2014 50.94 −7.29 pp
2013 58.23 −4.96 pp
2012 63.19 −18.29 pp
2011 81.48 +10.63 pp
2010 70.85 −11.75 pp
2009 82.6 −10.66 pp
2008 93.25 −12.19 pp
2007 105.44 +29.67 pp
2006 75.77 +2.9 pp
2005 72.87 +2.44 pp
2004 70.43 +11.45 pp
2003 58.98 −0.32 pp
2002 59.3 +16.21 pp
2001 43.09 −13.5 pp
2000 56.59 −1.89 pp
1999 58.49 −16.64 pp
1998 75.13 +9.12 pp
1997 66.01 +5.14 pp
1996 60.87 −6.28 pp
1995 67.15 +7.32 pp
1994 59.83 +8.27 pp
1993 51.56 −2.45 pp
1992 54 +12.52 pp
1991 41.49 +0.83 pp
1990 40.66 +2.49 pp
1989 38.16 +0.52 pp
1988 37.64 −1.38 pp
1987 39.02 −0.1 pp
1986 39.13 +1.13 pp
1985 38 +2.55 pp
1984 35.45 +5.33 pp
1983 30.12 −3.98 pp
1982 34.11 −4.61 pp
1981 38.71 −4.12 pp
1980 42.83 +4.55 pp
1979 38.28 +2.15 pp
1978 36.13 −0.21 pp
1977 36.34 −0.55 pp
1976 36.89 −5.73 pp
1975 42.62 −0.75 pp
1974 43.37 +4.29 pp
1973 39.08 +2.02 pp
1972 37.06 −2.39 pp
1971 39.45 −0.23 pp
1970 39.68 +2.74 pp
1969 36.94 −3.32 pp
1968 40.26 −0.73 pp
1967 41 −2.13 pp
1966 43.12 −20.74 pp
1965 63.87 +3.59 pp
1964 60.27 +22.35 pp
1963 37.93 −2.14 pp
1962 40.07 −1.59 pp
1961 41.65 +1.31 pp
1960 40.34

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.