Trade openness — all countries

Trade openness — Sub-Saharan Africa

Trade openness in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 54.99%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 16.18 pp.

2025 54.99% −0.69 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 71.11%2008
Period minimum 38.37%1991

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Trade openness — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–202530405060708019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 38.81%1980: 58.32%1981: 55.13%1986: 48.3%1987: 46.62%1988: 45.68%1989: 44.54%1990: 40.69%1991: 38.37%1992: 41.61%1993: 41.58%1994: 45.61%1995: 47.74%1996: 49.29%1997: 48.79%1998: 49.3%1999: 48.11%2000: 49.96%2001: 51.64%2002: 56.29%2003: 52.35%2004: 53.48%2005: 57.42%2006: 59.58%2007: 64.1%2008: 71.11%2009: 60.41%2010: 61.75%2011: 65.16%2012: 64%2013: 62.33%2014: 60.78%2015: 57.33%2016: 55.09%2017: 54.18%2018: 56.58%2019: 55.53%2020: 51.07%2021: 55.75%2022: 59%2023: 57.29%2024: 55.68%2025: 54.99%
Change over the period: +16.18 pp Annual average: 0.25 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 54.99%
World 68.49%
Trade openness — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 54.99 −0.69 pp
2024 55.68 −1.62 pp
2023 57.29 −1.71 pp
2022 59 +3.25 pp
2021 55.75 +4.68 pp
2020 51.07 −4.46 pp
2019 55.53 −1.05 pp
2018 56.58 +2.41 pp
2017 54.18 −0.91 pp
2016 55.09 −2.24 pp
2015 57.33 −3.45 pp
2014 60.78 −1.56 pp
2013 62.33 −1.66 pp
2012 64 −1.16 pp
2011 65.16 +3.41 pp
2010 61.75 +1.33 pp
2009 60.41 −10.7 pp
2008 71.11 +7.02 pp
2007 64.1 +4.52 pp
2006 59.58 +2.16 pp
2005 57.42 +3.94 pp
2004 53.48 +1.13 pp
2003 52.35 −3.94 pp
2002 56.29 +4.65 pp
2001 51.64 +1.69 pp
2000 49.96 +1.85 pp
1999 48.11 −1.2 pp
1998 49.3 +0.51 pp
1997 48.79 −0.5 pp
1996 49.29 +1.55 pp
1995 47.74 +2.14 pp
1994 45.61 +4.03 pp
1993 41.58 −0.03 pp
1992 41.61 +3.24 pp
1991 38.37 −2.32 pp
1990 40.69 −3.85 pp
1989 44.54 −1.14 pp
1988 45.68 −0.93 pp
1987 46.62 −1.68 pp
1986 48.3
1981 55.13 −3.18 pp
1980 58.32
1960 38.81

About the indicator

The sum of exports and imports of goods and services as a percent of GDP — the standard indicator of the trade openness of an economy. Values above 100% are not an anomaly: they mean that trade turnover exceeds annual GDP, which is typical of trading hubs and of small economies built into supply chains.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.