World Bank Group · Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)
Imports as a share of GDP by country
How much does a country buy from abroad compared with its output?
Of the 138 countries compared in 2025, Hong Kong had the highest reading, 196.89%, and Sudan had the lowest reading, 1.28%. In the middle country the figure was 41.72%. Among the 79 countries measured in every edition since 1970, the middle one moved from 21.58% to 32.81%.
Share
Imports as a share of GDP · 2025
Context statistic
Highest of 138Hong Kong
196.89%012025 · position · derived
The highest and the lowest
The three countries with the highest values of 138 compared, the three with the lowest, and the highest on each continent. This statistic has no better end, so no country is shown as leading.
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02Every measured country
Imports as a share of GDP on a map
Each country is shaded by its value, in five groups holding the same number of countries. Hover a country for its value, or select it to open its profile. Below the map, each continent’s middle country.
Darker is a higher value. This statistic has no better end, so the shades describe size, not success.
- 1.28–25.08%
- 25.43–33.80%
- 34.49–51.85%
- 52.04–67.15%
- 67.27–196.89%
- No reading in 2025 (55 measured in an earlier edition)
- Oceania
70.94%
the middle country, of 5 measured · 21 members
Nauru103.68%
Australia22.66%Highest and lowest reading in Oceania.
- Europe
55.57%
the middle country, of 40 measured · 49 members
Luxembourg159.36%
Russia15.51%Highest and lowest reading in Europe.
- Asia
40.42%
the middle country, of 30 measured · 52 members
Hong Kong196.89%
Turkmenistan13.70%Highest and lowest reading in Asia.
- Africa
32.25%
the middle country, of 44 measured · 55 members
Lesotho104.45%
Sudan1.28%Highest and lowest reading in Africa.
- Americas
30.42%
the middle country, of 19 measured · 48 members
Honduras56.52%
Venezuela10.11%Highest and lowest reading in Americas.
- Every region
21 sub-regions, highest middle country first
- Western Europe
69.11%
the middle country, of 7 measured · 9 members
Luxembourg159.36%
France33.80%Highest and lowest reading in Western Europe.
- South-eastern Asia
66.35%
the middle country, of 8 measured · 11 members
Singapore142.45%
Indonesia20.54%Highest and lowest reading in South-eastern Asia.
- Northern Europe
55.11%
the middle country, of 10 measured · 13 members
Ireland99.89%
United Kingdom31.86%Highest and lowest reading in Northern Europe.
- Eastern Europe
54.44%
the middle country, of 10 measured · 10 members
Slovakia85.25%Russia15.51%Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Europe.
- Southern Europe
54.12%
the middle country, of 13 measured · 17 members
Malta99.90%
Italy30.30%Highest and lowest reading in Southern Europe.
- Central America
47.57%
the middle country, of 6 measured · 8 members
Honduras56.52%
Guatemala30.97%Highest and lowest reading in Central America.
- Eastern Asia
46.85%
the middle country, of 5 measured · 8 members
Hong Kong196.89%
China16.89%Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Asia.
- Western Asia
45.01%
the middle country, of 8 measured · 19 members
Cyprus91.92%
Türkiye25.08%Highest and lowest reading in Western Asia.
- Northern Africa
41.32%
the middle country, of 6 measured · 6 members
Libya65.95%Sudan1.28%Highest and lowest reading in Northern Africa.
- Eastern Africa
32.91%
the middle country, of 13 measured · 19 members
Somalia98.81%
Tanzania19.99%Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Africa.
- Middle Africa
29.40%
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
DR Congo43.92%
Angola11.67%Highest and lowest reading in Middle Africa.
- Western Africa
29.11%
the middle country, of 12 measured · 16 members
Guinea62.27%
Niger18.14%Highest and lowest reading in Western Africa.
- Southern Asia
23.42%
the middle country, of 6 measured · 9 members
Iran34.49%
Bangladesh16.83%Highest and lowest reading in Southern Asia.
- South America
21.85%
the middle country, of 9 measured · 12 members
Paraguay39.30%Venezuela10.11%Highest and lowest reading in South America.
- Australia and New Zealand
1 of 2 measured — too few for a middle: Australia.
Australia22.66%Highest and lowest reading in Australia and New Zealand.
- Caribbean
3 of 24 measured — too few for a middle: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico43.57%
Haiti14.33%Highest and lowest reading in Caribbean.
- Central Asia
3 of 5 measured — too few for a middle: Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
Kyrgyzstan65.60%Turkmenistan13.70%Highest and lowest reading in Central Asia.
- Micronesia
3 of 7 measured — too few for a middle: Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru.
Nauru103.68%
Micronesia70.94%Highest and lowest reading in Micronesia.
- Northern America
1 of 4 measured — too few for a middle: Canada.
Canada32.18%Highest and lowest reading in Northern America.
- Polynesia
1 of 7 measured — too few for a middle: Samoa.
Samoa43.01%Highest and lowest reading in Polynesia.
- Southern Africa
4 of 5 measured — too few for a middle: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa.
Lesotho104.45%
South Africa29.50%Highest and lowest reading in Southern Africa.
03The whole field at once
The spread
138 countries, one dot each, on one scale — further right is a higher value. Half the countries are above 41.72%; a quarter are above 61.97%, and a quarter below 28.26%. The bar in each row marks that continent’s middle country.
04All 193 ever measured
Every country
In order, highest value first. “=” marks a position shared with another country. World Bank Group ranks nobody on this measure; the position is derived here by ordering the published values. Neither end is better, and reading a high figure as weakness is the usual mistake: an economy importing 90% of GDP is normally a small open one, not a failing one.
Showing 25 of 193 countries
Values for 2025. The change column compares 2025 with 2024 only; the sparkline covers the recent editions.
051970–2025 · 56 reference years
Over time
Each point is one reference year from 1970.
- the middle country
- the middle half of countries
- the middle of the 79 countries measured every time
- each continent’s middle country
The same, year by year
| Year | Countries | Middle country | Middle half | Measured every time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 138 | 41.72% | 28.26% – 61.97% | 32.81% |
| 2024 | 172 | 43.22% | 27.53% – 65.26% | 32.32% |
| 2023 | 176 | 44.77% | 28.95% – 64.88% | 33.34% |
| 2022 | 183 | 47.50% | 29.50% – 69.94% | 36.30% |
| 2021 | 183 | 42.50% | 29.10% – 61.57% | 32.50% |
| 2020 | 184 | 38.05% | 26.36% – 55.19% | 28.97% |
| 2019 | 183 | 41.47% | 28.70% – 58.93% | 33.10% |
| 2018 | 185 | 43.23% | 29.01% – 60.15% | 33.06% |
| 2017 | 185 | 41.85% | 27.82% – 57.98% | 32.82% |
| 2016 | 184 | 41.53% | 28.40% – 59.25% | 31.38% |
| 2015 | 185 | 42.17% | 30.16% – 59.61% | 32.18% |
| 2014 | 183 | 41.97% | 30.27% – 62.52% | 32.64% |
| 2013 | 181 | 43.40% | 29.88% – 62.43% | 32.34% |
| 2012 | 179 | 44.77% | 29.81% – 63.92% | 32.24% |
| 2011 | 179 | 44.51% | 29.28% – 63.71% | 32.06% |
| 2010 | 179 | 41.34% | 29.75% – 58.74% | 31.81% |
| 2009 | 179 | 39.92% | 28.52% – 55.83% | 31.26% |
| 2008 | 179 | 43.65% | 30.63% – 63.42% | 34.31% |
| 2007 | 176 | 41.92% | 29.26% – 60.87% | 31.98% |
| 2006 | 175 | 40.04% | 29.12% – 56.51% | 31.57% |
| 2005 | 175 | 41.37% | 28.90% – 59.88% | 31.00% |
| 2004 | 172 | 41.28% | 27.90% – 56.95% | 29.46% |
| 2003 | 172 | 37.85% | 26.89% – 55.38% | 28.37% |
| 2002 | 171 | 38.00% | 27.20% – 54.60% | 28.54% |
| 2001 | 165 | 37.65% | 27.18% – 53.32% | 29.56% |
| 2000 | 165 | 38.16% | 26.74% – 53.73% | 30.56% |
| 1999 | 163 | 36.46% | 25.59% – 52.28% | 27.36% |
| 1998 | 163 | 37.52% | 26.35% – 52.64% | 28.39% |
| 1997 | 163 | 37.23% | 25.45% – 50.15% | 28.42% |
| 1996 | 162 | 34.71% | 25.05% – 50.91% | 28.19% |
| 1995 | 162 | 35.06% | 25.97% – 50.14% | 29.04% |
| 1994 | 153 | 33.70% | 25.02% – 47.87% | 28.06% |
| 1993 | 149 | 32.67% | 23.59% – 47.55% | 27.37% |
| 1992 | 146 | 31.68% | 23.98% – 48.79% | 26.54% |
| 1991 | 144 | 30.29% | 23.33% – 43.20% | 26.52% |
| 1990 | 141 | 31.12% | 22.95% – 46.33% | 26.54% |
| 1989 | 127 | 30.12% | 22.34% – 47.09% | 26.46% |
| 1988 | 123 | 30.10% | 21.85% – 46.12% | 25.79% |
| 1987 | 123 | 28.94% | 21.17% – 44.28% | 26.10% |
| 1986 | 122 | 29.01% | 20.28% – 47.94% | 26.49% |
| 1985 | 120 | 31.61% | 21.38% – 51.53% | 29.89% |
| 1984 | 120 | 31.88% | 21.82% – 50.70% | 28.54% |
| 1983 | 121 | 32.12% | 22.04% – 49.42% | 28.72% |
| 1982 | 120 | 33.48% | 23.16% – 50.72% | 28.71% |
| 1981 | 120 | 34.83% | 23.62% – 54.77% | 30.31% |
| 1980 | 118 | 33.56% | 24.28% – 51.85% | 31.17% |
| 1979 | 106 | 31.38% | 22.03% – 45.85% | 29.54% |
| 1978 | 106 | 30.95% | 21.39% – 45.30% | 28.12% |
| 1977 | 106 | 31.78% | 20.92% – 44.15% | 28.95% |
| 1976 | 105 | 29.26% | 20.23% – 43.85% | 27.92% |
| 1975 | 102 | 30.60% | 21.02% – 42.62% | 28.62% |
| 1974 | 99 | 29.77% | 20.30% – 41.10% | 29.49% |
| 1973 | 98 | 24.83% | 17.62% – 36.99% | 23.50% |
| 1972 | 98 | 22.60% | 16.69% – 34.85% | 21.20% |
| 1971 | 97 | 22.79% | 16.69% – 36.39% | 21.32% |
| 1970 | 97 | 22.27% | 16.14% – 35.86% | 21.58% |
062024 → 2025
Who rose and fell
The biggest changes in value between the two newest editions — reference years recalculated in one report, not two separate publications. Places are shown second, because they also move when other countries do.
Rose most
before → after- Hong Kong177.77% → 196.89% · 1st → 1st+19.12
Gambia33.42% → 49.44% · 108th → 59th+16.02
Switzerland59.15% → 69.11% · 49th → 24th+9.96
Vietnam83.72% → 92.09% · 15th → 11th+8.37
Ethiopia11.86% → 20.18% · 169th → 123rd+8.31
Fell most
before → after
Armenia76.44% → 53.61% · 23rd → 48th−22.83
Djibouti114.82% → 95.80% · 4th → 9th−19.02- Kyrgyzstan83.33% → 65.60% · 16th → 31st−17.73
Rwanda43.27% → 35.12% · 86th → 81st−8.15
Belarus65.09% → 57.03% · 44th → 40th−8.06
138 countries were measured in both 2024 and 2025. The field changed from 172 to 138 countries, so a place can move for reasons that have nothing to do with the country itself.
07Across every edition
Imports as a share of GDP in records
The extremes of the statistic. A record reached by more than one country names none of them.
Highest reading on record
429.36%
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)
Lowest reading on record
0.00%
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)
Biggest rise between editions
+164.58
264.78% → 429.36%
Biggest fall between editions
−261.92
338.93% → 77.01%
Biggest change since first measured
+111.40
85.48% → 196.89%
Highest most often
33 of 56
editions, alone at the first-listed end
08The measure
About Imports as a share of GDP
Imports as a share of GDP is everything a country buys from abroad, goods and services together, measured against its own output. It is the other half of the trade-to-GDP measure, and the gap between the two is a country’s trade balance.
What the number is: Imports of goods and services (% of GDP).
09Where it fits
Connections
Its part in the Country Index, the statistics whose values line up most closely with it across countries, and others on the same subject.
In the Country Index
Context, with no vote
This statistic is published in full under Economy & Innovation and Mobility & Trade, but does not help decide any Country Index standing.
Economy & InnovationMobility & TradeWhich statistics vote, and why
Moves with
Where Imports as a share of GDP is higher, these tend to be higher too.
- Trade (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 138 countries in commonρ 0.96
- Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 138 countries in commonρ 0.81
- Services ExportsUNCTAD · 126 countries in commonρ 0.66
Moves against
Where Imports as a share of GDP is higher, these tend to be lower.
- Burned AreaGWIS · 137 countries in commonρ −0.57
- Total PopulationUN DESA Population Division · 138 countries in commonρ −0.56
- Land AreaFAO · 136 countries in commonρ −0.56
Rank correlation (ρ, from −1 to 1) across countries, on each statistic’s newest edition, out of 348 statistics sharing at least 80 countries with this one. Two statistics that move together do not cause each other.
10Keep reading
Explore further
The subject
More from World Bank Group
11Questions
Imports as a share of GDP: questions and answers
Which country has the highest Imports as a share of GDP?
Hong Kong, at 196.89%, among the 138 countries compared in 2025.
Which country has the lowest Imports as a share of GDP?
Sudan, at 1.28%, among the 138 countries compared in 2025.
How many countries does the Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) cover?
138 in 2025, and 193 at least once across all editions. The number measured varies from 97 to 185 between editions.
What is the world average Imports as a share of GDP?
This site does not calculate a world average, which would depend on how countries are weighted. In the middle country of the 138 compared in 2025, the figure was 41.72%.
Is this World Bank Group’s own ranking?
No. World Bank Group publishes the values but ranks nobody; the position on this page is derived by Nations Inquiry by ordering the published values, and equal values share a position.
How often is the Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) published?
This site holds 56 reference years, 1970–2025, all recalculated in World Bank Group’s 2026 report on one method — not 56 separate publications.
Where does the data come from, and can I download it?
From World Bank Group, under CC BY 4.0. Pulled from the World Bank’s indicator API (NE.IMP.GNFS.ZS). Every edition is on this site’s Datasets pages as a full table, and downloads as a CSV file with every value unrounded.
12Method
Sources, method and citation
Source
Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) — World Bank Group
Pulled from the World Bank’s indicator API (NE.IMP.GNFS.ZS).
Newest edition
Report year 2025Data year 2025
Cite the source as: World Bank. World Development Indicators. Washington, DC: World Bank Group.
Licence: CC BY 4.0, checked 2026-09-07.
How this page reads the numbers
- World Bank Group ranks nobody on this measure. The position is derived by Nations Inquiry by ordering the published values; equal values share a position.
- This statistic has no better end, so the page describes higher and lower values and never calls a country a leader.
- A country is named at an end only when it holds that value alone. Where several share it, the page says how many and names none first.
- Values are stored exactly as published and trimmed only for display. “The middle country” is the median of the countries measured, not a world average.
The file itself, column by column — where it came from, what each column holds, and every edition as a CSV — is on its dataset page.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Imports as a share of GDP by country: Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), data from World Bank Group. https://nationsinquiry.com/statistics/imports-to-gdp