Trade openness — all countries

Trade openness — Southern Africa

Trade openness in Southern Africa in 2025 — 63.34%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 16.41 pp.

2025 63.34% −1.07 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 68.89%2008
Period minimum 37.09%1992

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Trade openness — Southern Africa, 1960–2025304050607019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 46.93%1962: 43.54%1964: 46.14%1966: 42.33%1968: 41.56%1970: 40.06%1972: 41.3%1974: 49.36%1976: 49.87%1978: 52.02%1980: 59.39%1982: 49.59%1984: 45.64%1986: 49.26%1988: 48.55%1990: 41.28%1992: 37.09%1994: 39.65%1996: 44.83%1998: 46.9%2000: 48.8%2002: 55.97%2004: 48.02%2006: 55.6%2008: 68.89%2010: 53.65%2012: 59.03%2014: 63.76%2016: 59.74%2018: 57.44%2020: 53.58%2022: 67.57%2024: 64.42%2025: 63.34%
Change over the period: +16.41 pp Annual average: 0.25 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Southern Africa 63.34%
World 68.49%
Trade openness — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 63.34 −1.07 pp
2024 64.42 −3.54 pp
2023 67.96 +0.39 pp
2022 67.57 +8.45 pp
2021 59.12 +5.54 pp
2020 53.58 −3.16 pp
2019 56.74 −0.7 pp
2018 57.44 +1.08 pp
2017 56.36 −3.38 pp
2016 59.74 −1 pp
2015 60.74 −3.02 pp
2014 63.76 +0.93 pp
2013 62.83 +3.8 pp
2012 59.03 +1.3 pp
2011 57.73 +4.08 pp
2010 53.65 +0.51 pp
2009 53.14 −15.75 pp
2008 68.89 +8.83 pp
2007 60.07 +4.46 pp
2006 55.6 +6.06 pp
2005 49.55 +1.52 pp
2004 48.02 −0.32 pp
2003 48.34 −7.63 pp
2002 55.97 +4.38 pp
2001 51.6 +2.79 pp
2000 48.8 +3.44 pp
1999 45.36 −1.54 pp
1998 46.9 +1.55 pp
1997 45.35 +0.52 pp
1996 44.83 +2.72 pp
1995 42.12 +2.46 pp
1994 39.65 +1.32 pp
1993 38.33 +1.24 pp
1992 37.09 −0.83 pp
1991 37.92 −3.37 pp
1990 41.28 −4.31 pp
1989 45.6 −2.95 pp
1988 48.55 +0.84 pp
1987 47.71 −1.55 pp
1986 49.26 −0.89 pp
1985 50.15 +4.51 pp
1984 45.64 +3.07 pp
1983 42.57 −7.02 pp
1982 49.59 −5.42 pp
1981 55.01 −4.38 pp
1980 59.39 +4.03 pp
1979 55.36 +3.33 pp
1978 52.02 +2.79 pp
1977 49.24 −0.63 pp
1976 49.87 −0.65 pp
1975 50.52 +1.16 pp
1974 49.36 +7.63 pp
1973 41.73 +0.43 pp
1972 41.3 +0.42 pp
1971 40.88 +0.82 pp
1970 40.06 +0.21 pp
1969 39.85 −1.71 pp
1968 41.56 −1.15 pp
1967 42.71 +0.38 pp
1966 42.33 −3.41 pp
1965 45.74 −0.4 pp
1964 46.14 +0.96 pp
1963 45.17 +1.64 pp
1962 43.54 −0.36 pp
1961 43.9 −3.04 pp
1960 46.93

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.