Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP was 21.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
21.4%
Change on year
down 22.0%
World rank
211th
of 218 countries
All-time high
66.7%
in 2002
All-time low
21.4%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Afghanistan, 2000–2024

2030405060702000201220242000: 37.3 %2001: 62.7 %2002: 66.7 %2003: 49.7 %2004: 47.5 %2005: 46 %2006: 45.3 %2007: 35.7 %2008: 35.2 %2009: 30.1 %2010: 35 %2011: 38.7 %2012: 47.7 %2013: 45 %2014: 40.5 %2015: 43.3 %2016: 39.4 %2017: 41.5 %2018: 45.9 %2019: 40.6 %2020: 36.7 %2021: 43.8 %2022: 32.1 %2023: 27.4 %2024: 21.4 %

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 211th of 218 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

Annual values for Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Afghanistan, 2000 to 2024.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 208 Niger 22.6% compare
  2. 209 Sao Tome and Principe 22.1% compare
  3. 210 Argentina 22.0% compare
  4. 212 United States of America 18.9% compare
  5. 213 Guam 18.4% compare
  6. 214 Ethiopia 17.4% compare

See the full ranking of 255 places →

More economy & growth data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

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 211th out of 218 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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Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-trade-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
255 places, 6,196 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed