Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Southern Asia

Southern Asia: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP was 29.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
29.8%
Change on year
down 1.0%
Rank
33rd
of 37 groups
All-time high
41.8%
in 2008
All-time low
23.6%
in 2001
Years of data
25
2000–2024

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

0102030402000201220242000: 24.8 %2001: 23.6 %2002: 25.1 %2003: 25.9 %2004: 28.5 %2005: 32.8 %2006: 34.9 %2007: 33.1 %2008: 41.8 %2009: 31.5 %2010: 34.5 %2011: 39 %2012: 38 %2013: 38.1 %2014: 36.8 %2015: 30.8 %2016: 26.9 %2017: 28.3 %2018: 31.3 %2019: 28.6 %2020: 24.8 %2021: 30.7 %2022: 34.3 %2023: 30.1 %2024: 29.8 %

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Southern Asia is 29.8%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Southern Asia peaked at 41.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 23.6%, in 2001.

Southern Asia ranks 33rd of 37 groups on this measure, 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 Southern Asia, year by year

Annual values for Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Southern Asia, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 24.8%
2001 23.6% -4.9%
2002 25.1% +6.3%
2003 25.9% +3.4%
2004 28.5% +10.0%
2005 32.8% +14.9%
2006 34.9% +6.4%
2007 33.1% -5.1%
2008 41.8% +26.4%
2009 31.5% -24.7%
2010 34.5% +9.5%
2011 39.0% +13.0%
2012 38.0% -2.5%
2013 38.1% +0.4%
2014 36.8% -3.6%
2015 30.8% -16.3%
2016 26.9% -12.5%
2017 28.3% +5.0%
2018 31.3% +10.8%
2019 28.6% -8.5%
2020 24.8% -13.3%
2021 30.7% +23.5%
2022 34.3% +12.0%
2023 30.1% -12.4%
2024 29.8% -1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.2% 23.6% 41.8% 10
2010s 33.2% 26.9% 39.0% 10
2020s 29.9% 24.8% 34.3% 5

Countries ranked near Southern Asia

  1. 30 Lithuania 99.5% compare
  2. 31 Oman 99.4% compare
  3. 32 Libya 98.1% compare
  4. 33 Nicaragua 96.4% compare
  5. 34 Estonia 95.7% compare
  6. 35 Seychelles 92.4% compare
  7. 36 Kyrgyzstan 91.8% compare

See the full ranking of 255 places →

More economy & growth data for Southern Asia

All data for Southern Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Southern Asia?
Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Southern Asia was 29.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Southern Asia?
The highest recorded value was 41.8% in 2008.
What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Southern Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 23.6% in 2001.
How does Southern Asia rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
Southern Asia ranks 33rd out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Southern Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Southern Asia 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 Southern Asia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-trade-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/southern-asia/

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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