Imports of goods and services in United States
United States: Imports of goods and services was 14.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in United States, 1970–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, imports of goods and services in United States stood at 14.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in United States peaked at 17.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 1970.
That places United States 189th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in United States, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.2% | — |
| 1971 | 5.4% | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 5.8% | +8.4% |
| 1973 | 6.4% | +10.2% |
| 1974 | 8.2% | +29.0% |
| 1975 | 7.3% | -11.7% |
| 1976 | 8.1% | +10.8% |
| 1977 | 8.8% | +8.6% |
| 1978 | 9.0% | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 9.6% | +6.6% |
| 1980 | 10.3% | +6.9% |
| 1981 | 9.9% | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 9.1% | -8.5% |
| 1983 | 9.0% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 10.0% | +10.9% |
| 1985 | 9.6% | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 9.9% | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 10.5% | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 10.6% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 10.5% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 10.6% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 10.1% | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 10.2% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 10.5% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 11.2% | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 11.8% | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 11.9% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 12.3% | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 12.3% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 13.0% | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 14.4% | +10.8% |
| 2001 | 13.3% | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 13.2% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 13.6% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 14.8% | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 15.7% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 16.5% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 17.4% | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 13.8% | -20.7% |
| 2010 | 15.9% | +14.8% |
| 2011 | 17.3% | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 17.0% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 16.4% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 16.4% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 15.3% | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 14.6% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 14.9% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 15.2% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 14.5% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 13.0% | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 14.4% | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 15.3% | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 13.9% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 14.0% | +1.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 14.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 51.2%, 27% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.4% | 5.2% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.9% | 9.0% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.4% | 10.1% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.9% | 13.2% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 14.5% | 17.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 13.0% | 15.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More economy & growth data for United States
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,235 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 400.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 34.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,172 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 52.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in United States?
- Imports of goods and services in United States was 14.0% in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 17.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 1970.
- How does United States rank for imports of goods and services?
- United States ranks 189th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.