Trade as a share of GDP in United States
United States: Trade as a share of GDP was 25.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Trade as a share of GDP in United States, 1970–2024
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for trade as a share of gdp in United States is 25.0%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade as a share of gdp in United States peaked at 30.8% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 1971.
United States ranks 188th of 191 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Trade as a share of GDP in United States, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10.8% | — |
| 1971 | 10.8% | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 11.3% | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 13.1% | +15.3% |
| 1974 | 16.4% | +25.7% |
| 1975 | 15.5% | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 16.0% | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 16.4% | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 17.0% | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 18.4% | +8.3% |
| 1980 | 20.1% | +9.4% |
| 1981 | 19.4% | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 17.5% | -9.7% |
| 1983 | 16.7% | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 17.5% | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 16.6% | -5.2% |
| 1986 | 16.9% | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 18.0% | +6.4% |
| 1988 | 19.1% | +6.1% |
| 1989 | 19.4% | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 19.8% | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 19.8% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 20.0% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 20.0% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 21.1% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 22.5% | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 22.7% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 23.4% | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 22.8% | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 23.3% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 25.1% | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 23.0% | -8.5% |
| 2002 | 22.3% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 22.6% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 24.4% | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 25.6% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 27.0% | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 28.0% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 29.9% | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 24.8% | -17.1% |
| 2010 | 28.2% | +14.0% |
| 2011 | 30.8% | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 30.7% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 29.9% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 29.9% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 27.7% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 26.5% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 27.1% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 27.4% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 26.3% | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 23.1% | -11.9% |
| 2021 | 25.2% | +9.0% |
| 2022 | 26.9% | +6.6% |
| 2023 | 24.9% | -7.4% |
| 2024 | 25.0% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.6% | 10.8% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.1% | 16.6% | 20.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.5% | 19.8% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.3% | 22.3% | 29.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.5% | 26.3% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.0% | 23.1% | 26.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More economy & growth data for United States
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 9.94 % change on previous year (2021)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7626 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 54,478 current US$ per person (2021)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 9.94 % change on previous year (2021)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.7626 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per capita 54,478 current LCU per person (2021)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 2.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 10.53 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade as a share of gdp in United States?
- Trade as a share of gdp in United States was 25.0% in 2024, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest trade as a share of gdp recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2011.
- What is the lowest trade as a share of gdp recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 1971.
- How does United States rank for trade as a share of gdp?
- United States ranks 188th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is trade as a share of gdp rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Trade as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Trade in goods and services as a share of GDP, shown as a percentage.