Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Canada
Canada: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 28.4% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Latest (2014)
28.4%
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
137th
of 193 countries
All-time high
35.4%
in 2000
All-time low
11.5%
in 1933
Years of data
146
1867–2014
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Canada, 1867–2014
Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Canada is 28.4%, measured in 2014.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Canada peaked at 35.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 1933.
Canada ranks 137th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 146 years of available data.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1867 | 16.0% | — |
| 1870 | 22.0% | +37.3% |
| 1871 | 25.5% | +16.0% |
| 1872 | 28.0% | +9.9% |
| 1873 | 25.3% | -9.7% |
| 1874 | 24.2% | -4.3% |
| 1875 | 20.7% | -14.7% |
| 1876 | 22.4% | +8.6% |
| 1877 | 20.8% | -7.0% |
| 1878 | 19.4% | -6.9% |
| 1879 | 15.8% | -18.4% |
| 1880 | 18.9% | +19.0% |
| 1881 | 19.7% | +4.3% |
| 1882 | 19.8% | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 17.4% | -12.1% |
| 1884 | 17.2% | -1.5% |
| 1885 | 17.4% | +1.2% |
| 1886 | 18.8% | +8.1% |
| 1887 | 16.6% | -11.7% |
| 1888 | 17.3% | +4.3% |
| 1889 | 17.1% | -1.3% |
| 1890 | 16.3% | -4.5% |
| 1891 | 16.4% | +0.3% |
| 1892 | 16.4% | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 16.0% | -2.7% |
| 1894 | 15.5% | -2.9% |
| 1895 | 16.6% | +7.0% |
| 1896 | 16.8% | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 17.6% | +5.3% |
| 1898 | 19.5% | +10.3% |
| 1899 | 21.1% | +8.2% |
| 1900 | 19.7% | -6.3% |
| 1901 | 20.0% | +1.3% |
| 1902 | 20.2% | +1.0% |
| 1903 | 20.8% | +3.2% |
| 1904 | 21.0% | +0.7% |
| 1905 | 20.9% | -0.3% |
| 1906 | 21.9% | +4.6% |
| 1907 | 20.4% | -6.8% |
| 1908 | 18.1% | -11.4% |
| 1909 | 20.5% | +13.3% |
| 1910 | 22.8% | +11.5% |
| 1911 | 24.5% | +7.3% |
| 1912 | 27.1% | +10.7% |
| 1913 | 23.9% | -11.7% |
| 1914 | 24.3% | +1.5% |
| 1915 | 19.8% | -18.4% |
| 1916 | 26.5% | +33.4% |
| 1917 | 24.0% | -9.4% |
| 1918 | 20.9% | -12.9% |
| 1919 | 23.2% | +11.0% |
| 1920 | 20.8% | -10.2% |
| 1921 | 16.4% | -21.0% |
| 1922 | 18.2% | +10.4% |
| 1923 | 19.0% | +4.5% |
| 1924 | 16.3% | -13.9% |
| 1925 | 18.5% | +13.2% |
| 1926 | 20.0% | +8.1% |
| 1927 | 19.9% | -0.4% |
| 1928 | 20.9% | +5.1% |
| 1929 | 20.4% | -2.3% |
| 1930 | 15.9% | -22.4% |
| 1931 | 11.9% | -24.9% |
| 1932 | 11.9% | -0.3% |
| 1933 | 11.5% | -3.3% |
| 1934 | 12.9% | +12.6% |
| 1935 | 12.8% | -1.1% |
| 1936 | 13.7% | +7.2% |
| 1937 | 15.4% | +12.6% |
| 1938 | 12.8% | -16.8% |
| 1939 | 13.4% | +4.0% |
| 1940 | 16.1% | +20.6% |
| 1941 | 17.5% | +8.5% |
| 1942 | 16.0% | -8.5% |
| 1943 | 15.7% | -2.0% |
| 1944 | 14.8% | -5.4% |
| 1945 | 13.1% | -11.7% |
| 1946 | 15.7% | +19.6% |
| 1947 | 19.1% | +21.7% |
| 1948 | 19.4% | +1.3% |
| 1949 | 18.5% | -4.6% |
| 1950 | 19.5% | +5.3% |
| 1951 | 21.1% | +8.3% |
| 1952 | 18.4% | -12.5% |
| 1953 | 18.9% | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 17.6% | -6.9% |
| 1955 | 18.4% | +4.5% |
| 1956 | 20.0% | +8.5% |
| 1957 | 18.7% | -6.8% |
| 1958 | 16.6% | -10.9% |
| 1959 | 17.0% | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 15.7% | -7.3% |
| 1961 | 15.8% | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 15.7% | -0.5% |
| 1963 | 15.2% | -2.9% |
| 1964 | 16.0% | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 16.9% | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 17.7% | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 17.7% | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 18.4% | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 19.1% | +3.6% |
| 1970 | 17.3% | -9.6% |
| 1971 | 17.7% | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 18.9% | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 20.1% | +6.6% |
| 1974 | 22.9% | +13.9% |
| 1975 | 22.2% | -2.9% |
| 1976 | 20.9% | -6.2% |
| 1977 | 21.3% | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 22.7% | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 25.0% | +10.5% |
| 1980 | 24.5% | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 24.4% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 19.9% | -18.5% |
| 1983 | 20.4% | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 23.5% | +15.2% |
| 1985 | 23.7% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 24.3% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 23.1% | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 23.9% | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 22.8% | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 22.2% | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 21.7% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 23.2% | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 25.7% | +10.9% |
| 1994 | 28.8% | +12.1% |
| 1995 | 29.7% | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 29.8% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 32.9% | +10.7% |
| 1998 | 34.7% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 34.8% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 35.4% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 33.1% | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 32.2% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 29.5% | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 29.2% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 29.6% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 29.3% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 28.6% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 29.0% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 25.8% | -11.1% |
| 2010 | 26.7% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 27.8% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 27.9% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 27.7% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 28.4% | +2.8% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 28.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.0%, 75% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 16.0% | 16.0% | 16.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 22.4% | 15.8% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 1880s | 18.0% | 16.6% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 1890s | 17.2% | 15.5% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 1900s | 20.4% | 18.1% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 1910s | 23.7% | 19.8% | 27.1% | 10 |
| 1920s | 19.0% | 16.3% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 1930s | 13.2% | 11.5% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 1940s | 16.6% | 13.1% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 1950s | 18.6% | 16.6% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.8% | 15.2% | 19.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.9% | 17.3% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.1% | 19.9% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.4% | 21.7% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.2% | 25.8% | 35.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.7% | 26.7% | 28.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 134 Denmark 29.3% compare
- 135 Dominican Republic 29.1% compare
- 136 Central African Republic 28.6% compare
- 138 Sweden 28.2% compare
- 139 French Polynesia 28.2% compare
- 140 Chile 27.9% compare
More economy & growth data for Canada
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.8812 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.66 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 57.17 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0246 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,373 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 69.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 9.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0298 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,657 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.88 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Canada?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Canada was 28.4% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 35.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 1933.
- How does Canada rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Canada ranks 137th out of 193 countries with data for 2014.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 146 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates correspond to merchandise import-to-GDP ratios for countries and regions. All ratios are taken at current prices. See source for more details.