Trade in South Asia
South Asia: Trade was 44.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Trade in South Asia, 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 is 44.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade in South Asia peaked at 55.0% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 9.9%, in 1971.
South Asia ranks 40th of 43 groups 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 South Asia, 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
More economy & growth data for South Asia
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 7.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation 5.8% (2025)
- Gross capital formation 33.8% (2025)
- Imports of goods and services 1.07 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Imports of goods and services 910.51 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Imports of goods and services 6.5% (2025)
- Imports of goods and services 23.5% (2025)
- External balance on goods and services -2.4% (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita 2,473 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 686.25 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade in South Asia?
- Trade in South Asia 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?
- The highest recorded value was 55.0% in 2012.
- What is the lowest trade recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.9% in 1971.
- How does South Asia rank for trade?
- South Asia ranks 40th out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is trade rising or falling in South Asia?
- 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 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.
Download this data
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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.