Merchandise trade to GDP ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria: Merchandise trade to GDP ratio was 82.0% in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
82.0%
Change on year
up 7.5%
Rank
1st
of 6 groups
All-time high
83.2%
in 2008
All-time low
47.7%
in 1972
Years of data
45
1967–2011

Merchandise trade to GDP ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria, 1967–2011

0204060801967198920111967: 48.6 %1968: 49.6 %1969: 48.9 %1970: 50.9 %1971: 48.8 %1972: 47.7 %1973: 48.7 %1974: 57 %1975: 52.2 %1976: 53.3 %1977: 52.7 %1978: 50.2 %1979: 52.9 %1980: 59.6 %1981: 57.4 %1982: 53.7 %1983: 52.9 %1984: 55.4 %1985: 52.7 %1986: 48.7 %1987: 48.6 %1988: 48 %1989: 50.2 %1990: 52.2 %1991: 51.6 %1992: 57.8 %1993: 55.1 %1994: 65.6 %1995: 67.4 %1996: 67.1 %1997: 63.1 %1998: 61.3 %1999: 61.8 %2000: 66.2 %2001: 66.4 %2002: 66.9 %2003: 69.9 %2004: 73.4 %2005: 80.3 %2006: 78.3 %2007: 80.2 %2008: 83.2 %2009: 72.1 %2010: 76.3 %2011: 82 %

Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for merchandise trade to gdp ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria is 82.0%, measured in 2011.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 23.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, merchandise trade to gdp ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria peaked at 83.2% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 47.7%, in 1972.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.

Merchandise trade to GDP ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Merchandise trade to GDP ratio (%) in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria, 1967 to 2011.
Year % Change
1967 48.6%
1968 49.6% +2.0%
1969 48.9% -1.3%
1970 50.9% +4.1%
1971 48.8% -4.1%
1972 47.7% -2.3%
1973 48.7% +2.3%
1974 57.0% +16.9%
1975 52.2% -8.5%
1976 53.3% +2.2%
1977 52.7% -1.2%
1978 50.2% -4.6%
1979 52.9% +5.2%
1980 59.6% +12.7%
1981 57.4% -3.7%
1982 53.7% -6.4%
1983 52.9% -1.5%
1984 55.4% +4.7%
1985 52.7% -4.8%
1986 48.7% -7.6%
1987 48.6% -0.2%
1988 48.0% -1.3%
1989 50.2% +4.7%
1990 52.2% +4.0%
1991 51.6% -1.1%
1992 57.8% +11.9%
1993 55.1% -4.7%
1994 65.6% +19.2%
1995 67.4% +2.6%
1996 67.1% -0.4%
1997 63.1% -5.9%
1998 61.3% -2.8%
1999 61.8% +0.7%
2000 66.2% +7.1%
2001 66.4% +0.3%
2002 66.9% +0.7%
2003 69.9% +4.5%
2004 73.4% +5.0%
2005 80.3% +9.4%
2006 78.3% -2.5%
2007 80.2% +2.4%
2008 83.2% +3.8%
2009 72.1% -13.4%
2010 76.3% +5.9%
2011 82.0% +7.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 49.0% 48.6% 49.6% 3
1970s 51.4% 47.7% 57.0% 10
1980s 52.7% 48.0% 59.6% 10
1990s 60.3% 51.6% 67.4% 10
2000s 73.7% 66.2% 83.2% 10
2010s 79.2% 76.3% 82.0% 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

  1. 1 Lesotho 159.0% compare
  2. 2 Democratic Republic of Congo 146.3% compare
  3. 3 Seychelles 144.7% compare
  4. 4 Zimbabwe 137.3% compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is merchandise trade to gdp ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
Merchandise trade to gdp ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria was 82.0% in 2011, according to World Bank country economists.
What is the highest merchandise trade to gdp ratio recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 83.2% in 2008.
What is the lowest merchandise trade to gdp ratio recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 47.7% in 1972.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria rank for merchandise trade to gdp ratio?
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria ranks 1st out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is merchandise trade to gdp ratio rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Merchandise trade to GDP ratio (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Merchandise trade to GDP ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-trade-to-gdp-ratio-percent/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa-and-nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise trade to GDP ratio (%)
Unit
%
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
59 places, 2,599 data points, 1960–2011
Last refreshed

Merchandise trade as a share of GDP is the sum of merchandise exports and imports divided by the value of GDP, all in current US dollars and from the national accounts.