Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Western Africa

Western Africa: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP was 43.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
43.2%
Change on year
up 34.1%
Rank
23rd
of 37 groups
All-time high
45.1%
in 2011
All-time low
21.9%
in 2020
Years of data
25
2000–2024

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

010203040502000201220242000: 42.92001: 40.82002: 32.42003: 36.22004: 40.72005: 432006: 38.92007: 39.22008: 42.42009: 35.32010: 39.12011: 45.12012: 41.72013: 34.82014: 33.82015: 27.22016: 26.12017: 29.72018: 322019: 25.12020: 21.92021: 262022: 29.52023: 32.22024: 43.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Western Africa stood at 43.2%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 34.1% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Western Africa peaked at 45.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 2020.

Western Africa ranks 23rd of 37 groups on this measure, 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 Western Africa, year by year

Annual values for Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Western Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 42.9%
2001 40.8% -5.0%
2002 32.4% -20.5%
2003 36.2% +11.6%
2004 40.7% +12.4%
2005 43.0% +5.7%
2006 38.9% -9.6%
2007 39.2% +0.9%
2008 42.4% +8.3%
2009 35.3% -16.9%
2010 39.1% +10.9%
2011 45.1% +15.2%
2012 41.7% -7.5%
2013 34.8% -16.5%
2014 33.8% -2.8%
2015 27.2% -19.8%
2016 26.1% -4.0%
2017 29.7% +13.9%
2018 32.0% +7.9%
2019 25.1% -21.7%
2020 21.9% -12.5%
2021 26.0% +18.6%
2022 29.5% +13.3%
2023 32.2% +9.4%
2024 43.2% +34.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 39.2% 32.4% 43.0% 10
2010s 33.5% 25.1% 45.1% 10
2020s 30.6% 21.9% 43.2% 5

Countries ranked near Western Africa

  1. 20 Armenia 116.2% compare
  2. 21 Namibia 115.4% compare
  3. 22 Thailand 115.3% compare
  4. 23 Mongolia 115.1% compare
  5. 24 Belarus 113.2% compare
  6. 25 Lao People's Democratic Republic 109.4% compare
  7. 25 Lao People's Democratic Republic 109.4% compare

See the full ranking of 255 places →

More economy & growth data for Western Africa

All data for Western Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Western Africa?
Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Western Africa was 43.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Western Africa?
The highest recorded value was 45.1% in 2011.
What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Western Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 2020.
How does Western Africa rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
Western Africa ranks 23rd out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Western Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Western 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.

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Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Western Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-trade-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/western-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%)
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