Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in South America

South America: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP was 31.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
31.8%
Change on year
up 2.1%
Rank
31st
of 37 groups
All-time high
37.1%
in 2022
All-time low
23.4%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

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

0102030402000201220242000: 23.4 %2001: 25 %2002: 29 %2003: 29.9 %2004: 32.7 %2005: 32.2 %2006: 32.3 %2007: 31.6 %2008: 32.8 %2009: 25.4 %2010: 25.7 %2011: 28.4 %2012: 28.3 %2013: 28.7 %2014: 27.7 %2015: 27 %2016: 24.5 %2017: 24.4 %2018: 28.4 %2019: 28.1 %2020: 30.1 %2021: 35.8 %2022: 37.1 %2023: 31.2 %2024: 31.8 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South America stood at 31.8%.

That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South America peaked at 37.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 23.4%, in 2000.

That places South America 31st out of 37 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in South America, year by year

Annual values for Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in South America, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 23.4%
2001 25.0% +6.4%
2002 29.0% +16.0%
2003 29.9% +3.3%
2004 32.7% +9.2%
2005 32.2% -1.5%
2006 32.3% +0.4%
2007 31.6% -2.2%
2008 32.8% +3.8%
2009 25.4% -22.5%
2010 25.7% +1.1%
2011 28.4% +10.3%
2012 28.3% -0.1%
2013 28.7% +1.2%
2014 27.7% -3.4%
2015 27.0% -2.4%
2016 24.5% -9.4%
2017 24.4% -0.2%
2018 28.4% +16.3%
2019 28.1% -1.1%
2020 30.1% +7.0%
2021 35.8% +19.0%
2022 37.1% +3.7%
2023 31.2% -16.0%
2024 31.8% +2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 29.4% 23.4% 32.8% 10
2010s 27.1% 24.4% 28.7% 10
2020s 33.2% 30.1% 37.1% 5

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 28 Latvia 101.6% compare
  2. 29 Micronesia (Federated States of) 101.2% compare
  3. 30 Lithuania 99.5% compare
  4. 31 Oman 99.4% compare
  5. 32 Libya 98.1% compare
  6. 33 Nicaragua 96.4% compare
  7. 34 Estonia 95.7% compare

See the full ranking of 255 places →

More economy & growth data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South America?
Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South America was 31.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 37.1% in 2022.
What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 23.4% in 2000.
How does South America rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
South America ranks 31st out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South America 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 South America. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-trade-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/south-america/

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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