Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Africa
Africa: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP was 46.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Africa stood at 46.6%.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Africa peaked at 55.2% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 33.3%, in 2020.
That places Africa 20th out of 37 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40.1% | — |
| 2001 | 40.6% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 40.6% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 41.1% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 44.5% | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 47.4% | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 47.9% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 50.1% | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 55.2% | +10.2% |
| 2009 | 45.3% | -18.0% |
| 2010 | 48.9% | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 51.8% | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 51.4% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 48.7% | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 46.3% | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 40.8% | -12.0% |
| 2016 | 39.4% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 41.0% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 44.0% | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 38.2% | -13.2% |
| 2020 | 33.3% | -12.8% |
| 2021 | 39.5% | +18.6% |
| 2022 | 43.6% | +10.3% |
| 2023 | 44.4% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 46.6% | +5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45.3% | 40.1% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.0% | 38.2% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.5% | 33.3% | 46.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More economy & growth data for Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2028)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.26 Percent per annum (2028)
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 10.08 million (2027)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita 7.84 % (2024)
- GDP Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices 101.78 USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ 10.34 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices 3.04 million million USD (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices 88.82 USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$ per capita 2,047 USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$ per capita, 2015 prices 2,011 USD (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Africa?
- Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Africa was 46.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 55.2% in 2008.
- What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.3% in 2020.
- How does Africa rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
- Africa ranks 20th out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
- Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).