Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) was 36.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in United Kingdom, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom is 36.0%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 6.3% on the previous year and down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom peaked at 44.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2004.
That places United Kingdom 169th out of 220 countries 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.3% | — |
| 2001 | 37.2% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 35.8% | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 34.1% | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 33.7% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 35.9% | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 39.3% | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 35.2% | -10.6% |
| 2008 | 38.9% | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 36.3% | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 40.6% | +11.8% |
| 2011 | 44.5% | +9.8% |
| 2012 | 43.4% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 43.2% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 39.1% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 37.2% | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 38.7% | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 40.1% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 40.0% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 40.2% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 38.1% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 36.5% | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 43.1% | +17.8% |
| 2023 | 38.5% | -10.6% |
| 2024 | 36.0% | -6.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 36.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 56.9%, 63% of the median. (73 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 36.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 63.9%, 56% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.4% | 33.7% | 39.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.7% | 37.2% | 44.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.4% | 36.0% | 43.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 21.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom?
- Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom was 36.0% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 44.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2004.
- How does United Kingdom rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
- United Kingdom ranks 169th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).