Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) was 21.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Afghanistan, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Afghanistan stood at 21.4%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 22.0% on the previous year and down 47.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Afghanistan peaked at 66.7% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 21.4%, in 2024.
Afghanistan ranks 213th of 220 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.3% | — |
| 2001 | 62.7% | +68.1% |
| 2002 | 66.7% | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 49.7% | -25.6% |
| 2004 | 47.5% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 46.0% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 45.3% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 35.7% | -21.3% |
| 2008 | 35.2% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 30.1% | -14.5% |
| 2010 | 35.0% | +16.1% |
| 2011 | 38.7% | +10.7% |
| 2012 | 47.7% | +23.3% |
| 2013 | 45.0% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 40.5% | -10.1% |
| 2015 | 43.3% | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 39.4% | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 41.5% | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 45.9% | +10.5% |
| 2019 | 40.6% | -11.4% |
| 2020 | 36.7% | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 43.8% | +19.5% |
| 2022 | 32.1% | -26.8% |
| 2023 | 27.4% | -14.4% |
| 2024 | 21.4% | -22.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 21.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 38.8%, 55% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 21.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 67.4%, 32% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45.6% | 30.1% | 66.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.8% | 35.0% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.3% | 21.4% | 43.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More economy & growth data for Afghanistan
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 60.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.59 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -6.24 Percent per annum (2022)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0237 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 9.26 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -8.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0182 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 6.76 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Afghanistan?
- Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Afghanistan was 21.4% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 66.7% in 2002.
- What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.4% in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
- Afghanistan ranks 213th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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