Trade in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Trade was 44.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Trade in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for trade in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) is 44.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 55.0% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 9.9%, in 1971.
That places South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 40th out of 43 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Trade in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13.7% | — |
| 1961 | 12.8% | -6.5% |
| 1962 | 12.7% | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 12.5% | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 12.0% | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 11.2% | -6.4% |
| 1966 | 13.1% | +16.3% |
| 1967 | 12.1% | -7.4% |
| 1968 | 11.1% | -8.4% |
| 1969 | 10.0% | -10.0% |
| 1970 | 10.3% | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 9.9% | -3.7% |
| 1972 | 10.0% | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 11.1% | +11.2% |
| 1974 | 12.8% | +15.0% |
| 1975 | 13.9% | +9.0% |
| 1976 | 15.3% | +9.4% |
| 1977 | 15.0% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 15.7% | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 17.7% | +12.9% |
| 1980 | 18.6% | +4.7% |
| 1981 | 17.2% | -7.5% |
| 1982 | 16.8% | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 16.2% | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 16.1% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 15.2% | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 14.4% | -5.6% |
| 1987 | 14.7% | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 15.7% | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 17.3% | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 17.7% | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 19.0% | +7.4% |
| 1992 | 20.6% | +8.4% |
| 1993 | 22.1% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 22.6% | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 25.6% | +13.5% |
| 1996 | 24.6% | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 25.3% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 26.2% | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 27.2% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 29.5% | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 28.6% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 31.2% | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 32.0% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 38.2% | +19.3% |
| 2005 | 42.5% | +11.4% |
| 2006 | 46.0% | +8.2% |
| 2007 | 46.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 52.8% | +14.7% |
| 2009 | 45.9% | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 48.3% | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 54.8% | +13.4% |
| 2012 | 55.0% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 53.1% | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 48.7% | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 42.3% | -13.1% |
| 2016 | 39.8% | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 40.3% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 43.2% | +7.1% |
| 2019 | 39.8% | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 37.0% | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 44.0% | +19.0% |
| 2022 | 49.4% | +12.2% |
| 2023 | 45.1% | -8.6% |
| 2024 | 44.4% | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 44.6% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.1% | 10.0% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.2% | 9.9% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.2% | 14.4% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.1% | 17.7% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.3% | 28.6% | 52.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.5% | 39.8% | 55.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.1% | 37.0% | 49.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
More economy & growth data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5874 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 1,864 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6891 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 5.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,504 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5559 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 7.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1017 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 275.19 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Trade in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 44.6% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest trade recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 55.0% in 2012.
- What is the lowest trade recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.9% in 1971.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for trade?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 40th out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is trade rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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.