Imports of goods and services

In brief

Imports of goods and services: across 192 countries and territories, values range from 1.3 % (Sudan) to 196.9 % (Hong Kong SAR China), with a world median of 43.8 %. Data: 1960–2025. The top 10% of countries exceed 85.2 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 20.4 %. By continent, the median is highest in Oceania (64.3 %) and lowest in South America (24.1 %).

Median by continent

Why this indicator matters

This indicator shows what a country buys from abroad relative to its wealth. It helps compare how open economies are and how dependent they are on products from elsewhere, such as energy, machinery or food.

What makes this indicator vary

Imports are high in small countries, which cannot produce everything, and in those that serve as trading hubs. They also depend on domestic demand, the exchange rate, energy prices and trade agreements.

Reading precautions

The figures include goods and services. A high share is not necessarily bad: it can come from a country that imports in order to re-export. Large countries naturally have a lower share because their domestic market is vast.