Explore exports, imports, trade openness, merchandise and services trade, and the balance between what countries sell to and buy from the rest of the world.
How to use the Trade Explorer
Pick a trade indicator from the menu and the map colors every country by its latest value. Click a country, or search for it, to see its full trade profile: exports, imports, the balance between them, and how important trade is to its economy.
What the indicators mean
- Exports of goods and services – the value of everything a country sells to the rest of the world, from cars and computer chips to tourism and software, in US dollars.
- Imports of goods and services – the value of everything it buys from abroad.
- Trade (% of GDP) – exports plus imports, compared with the size of the economy. This is often called trade openness.
- Exports (% of GDP) and Imports (% of GDP) – each side on its own, compared with GDP.
- Merchandise trade (% of GDP) – trade in physical goods only.
- Services trade (% of GDP) – trade in services such as travel, transport, finance, and digital services.
How to read trade openness
Trade openness tells you how much a country depends on the rest of the world. In the latest data:
- South Korea (about 86% of GDP) and Germany (about 79%) are very open, export-driven economies built on manufacturing.
- China (about 38%) and Brazil (about 35%) trade huge amounts in dollar terms, but their large domestic economies make trade a smaller share.
- The United States (about 25%) is one of the least trade-dependent large economies, because its home market is so big.
Small trading hubs such as Singapore and Luxembourg can show trade above 100% or even 300% of GDP. That’s because goods often pass through them and are re-exported, so the same value is counted as both an import and an export.
Trade surplus vs. trade deficit
When a country exports more than it imports, it has a trade surplus. When it imports more, it has a trade deficit. A deficit is not automatically bad. It can mean strong consumer demand or heavy investment. Likewise, a surplus can reflect weak spending at home. Economists look at the bigger picture, including savings, investment, and exchange rates.
Where the data comes from
Figures come from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators, which draw on national accounts and data from the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization. Each value shows the latest available year. Trade values are measured in current US dollars, so they move with exchange rates and prices, not only with the volume of trade.
Common questions
Why can trade be more than 100% of GDP?
Exports and imports are measured in total value, while GDP only counts the value a country adds. A country that imports parts, assembles them, and exports the result can have trade far larger than its GDP.
Does this show who countries trade with?
No. It shows each country’s totals. It doesn’t break down trading partners or individual products.
Explore more
- Economic Explorer – GDP, growth, and inflation
- Energy Explorer – energy production and use
- Agriculture & Food Explorer – farming and food security