Trade in China
China: Trade was 38.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Trade in China, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
China recorded 38.0% for trade in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade in China peaked at 63.6% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 1970.
China ranks 174th of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Trade in China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.3% | — |
| 1961 | 5.8% | -7.9% |
| 1962 | 5.6% | -4.2% |
| 1963 | 5.7% | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 5.7% | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 5.9% | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 5.9% | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 5.6% | -5.8% |
| 1968 | 5.6% | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 4.9% | -11.4% |
| 1970 | 4.8% | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 4.9% | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 5.7% | +14.6% |
| 1973 | 8.1% | +42.6% |
| 1974 | 10.3% | +27.9% |
| 1975 | 10.0% | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 9.6% | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 9.3% | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 15.4% | +65.2% |
| 1979 | 16.5% | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 21.5% | +30.4% |
| 1981 | 23.7% | +10.2% |
| 1982 | 19.7% | -17.2% |
| 1983 | 17.9% | -9.0% |
| 1984 | 19.0% | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 20.7% | +8.8% |
| 1986 | 19.8% | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 24.8% | +25.0% |
| 1988 | 30.0% | +21.0% |
| 1989 | 25.1% | -16.5% |
| 1990 | 24.2% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 25.9% | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 30.0% | +16.1% |
| 1993 | 35.9% | +19.6% |
| 1994 | 35.6% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 34.1% | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 33.6% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 34.3% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 32.2% | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 33.2% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 39.0% | +17.4% |
| 2001 | 38.1% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 42.2% | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 51.1% | +21.1% |
| 2004 | 58.6% | +14.8% |
| 2005 | 61.4% | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 63.6% | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 61.3% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 56.7% | -7.4% |
| 2009 | 44.4% | -21.7% |
| 2010 | 49.9% | +12.2% |
| 2011 | 49.9% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 47.5% | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 45.9% | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 44.1% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 38.7% | -12.2% |
| 2016 | 36.2% | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 37.0% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 36.9% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 35.5% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 34.3% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 36.6% | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 37.5% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 36.7% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 38.0% | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 38.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.7% | 4.9% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.5% | 4.8% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.2% | 17.9% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.9% | 24.2% | 35.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.6% | 38.1% | 63.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.1% | 35.5% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.9% | 34.3% | 38.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- GDP (current US$), annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current US$), per capita 13,862 current US$ per person (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per unit of GDP 7.19 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per capita 99,666 current LCU per person (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.995 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita 13,793 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade in China?
- Trade in China was 38.0% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest trade recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 63.6% in 2006.
- What is the lowest trade recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 1970.
- How does China rank for trade?
- China ranks 174th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is trade rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Trade (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Trade is the sum of exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.