Imports of goods and services in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Imports of goods and services was 31.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in United Kingdom stood at 31.9%.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in United Kingdom peaked at 35.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 1971.
United Kingdom ranks 134th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 21.0% | — |
| 1971 | 20.5% | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 20.7% | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 24.8% | +19.4% |
| 1974 | 31.6% | +27.8% |
| 1975 | 27.1% | -14.4% |
| 1976 | 29.1% | +7.5% |
| 1977 | 28.9% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 26.7% | -7.8% |
| 1979 | 27.0% | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 24.4% | -9.6% |
| 1981 | 23.1% | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 23.7% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 24.8% | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 27.6% | +11.3% |
| 1985 | 26.8% | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 25.4% | -5.0% |
| 1987 | 25.3% | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 25.2% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 26.0% | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 24.9% | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 22.7% | -8.8% |
| 1992 | 23.4% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 24.9% | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 25.8% | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 25.1% | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 25.8% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 25.1% | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 24.8% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 25.3% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 26.8% | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 27.2% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 26.8% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 26.1% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 26.3% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 27.3% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 29.3% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 27.3% | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 29.1% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 27.9% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 30.3% | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 32.1% | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 31.5% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 31.5% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 30.3% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 29.2% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 30.8% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 32.2% | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 33.1% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 33.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 29.2% | -11.8% |
| 2021 | 29.2% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 35.1% | +20.1% |
| 2023 | 33.1% | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 31.8% | -3.9% |
| 2025 | 31.9% | +0.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 31.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 51.2%, 62% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 31.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 52.7%, 60% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.7% | 20.5% | 31.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.2% | 23.1% | 27.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.8% | 22.7% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.4% | 26.1% | 29.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.4% | 29.2% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.7% | 29.2% | 35.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 86.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0217 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,251 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 691.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0191 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,103 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 22.77 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in United Kingdom?
- Imports of goods and services in United Kingdom was 31.9% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 35.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom rank for imports of goods and services?
- United Kingdom ranks 134th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.