Imports of goods and services in World
World: Imports of goods and services was 28.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in World, 1970–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in World is 28.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in World peaked at 30.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 1970.
World ranks 22nd of 45 groups 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 World, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12.8% | — |
| 1971 | 12.9% | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 13.2% | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 14.7% | +11.2% |
| 1974 | 18.1% | +23.3% |
| 1975 | 17.1% | -5.4% |
| 1976 | 17.7% | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 18.0% | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 17.6% | -2.2% |
| 1979 | 19.2% | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 20.8% | +7.9% |
| 1981 | 20.1% | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 19.3% | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 18.5% | -4.1% |
| 1984 | 18.8% | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 18.2% | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 17.1% | -5.8% |
| 1987 | 17.7% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 18.2% | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 19.0% | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 19.2% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 18.8% | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 19.5% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 18.5% | -5.1% |
| 1994 | 19.0% | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 20.1% | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 20.6% | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 21.4% | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 21.4% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 21.6% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 23.4% | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 22.9% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 22.9% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 23.7% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 25.5% | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 26.7% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 28.1% | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 28.9% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 30.1% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 25.5% | -15.3% |
| 2010 | 27.6% | +8.2% |
| 2011 | 29.4% | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 29.1% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 29.1% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 28.9% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 27.3% | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 26.3% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 27.3% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 28.2% | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 27.4% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 25.4% | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 27.5% | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 30.0% | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 28.3% | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 28.1% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 28.5% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.1% | 12.8% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.8% | 17.1% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.0% | 18.5% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.8% | 22.9% | 30.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.1% | 26.3% | 29.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.0% | 25.4% | 30.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
More economy & growth data for World
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.23 Percent per annum (2028)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.11 Percent per annum (2028)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.49 trillion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0126 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 180.85 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.35 trillion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -14.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0114 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 163.93 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.45 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in World?
- Imports of goods and services in World was 28.5% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 30.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 1970.
- How does World rank for imports of goods and services?
- World ranks 22nd out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this World 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.
Download this data
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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.