European Union Trade Openness
Trade as % of GDP NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS
European Union's trade openness was 99.02% in 2025, ranked 77th globally. This represents a 8.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
European Union's trade openness stood at 99.02% in 2025, a rise of +7.37% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 99.02% by 2025. European Union ranked 77th globally.
The European Union’s trade openness has risen sharply from 40.15 in 1970 to 99.02 in 2025, placing it at 77th globally and signalling a near‑full integration of imports and exports with GDP. The indicator reached its all‑time high of 103.71 in 2022, a level that briefly exceeded the EU’s own 2025 figure and reflected the post‑pandemic surge in cross‑border commerce. Conversely, the early 1970s trough of 39.81 in 1971 underscores how the bloc moved from a relatively closed economy to one of the world’s most open markets over 56 years. Among peers with comparable rankings, Portugal recorded a slightly higher openness of 99.41, while Mauritania stood at 97.83, illustrating that the EU’s performance aligns with the upper tier of open economies. Continued liberalisation of services, digital trade facilitation and the completion of the EU‑UK trade agreement are likely to sustain the upward trajectory, though protectionist pressures could temper future gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Openness | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 102.96% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 100.99% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 99.02% | - | - |
| 2025 | 99.02% | +7.37% | #77 |
| 2024 | 91.65% | −3.56% | #90 |
| 2023 | 95.22% | −8.49% | #101 |
| 2022 | 103.71% | +12.50% | #115 |
| 2021 | 91.20% | +7.39% | #119 |
| 2020 | 83.82% | −6.74% | #119 |
| 2019 | 90.55% | +0.12% | #111 |
| 2018 | 90.43% | +1.71% | #113 |
| 2017 | 88.72% | +2.93% | #111 |
| 2016 | 85.78% | −0.89% | #103 |
| 2015 | 86.68% | +1.18% | #106 |
| 2014 | 85.49% | +0.71% | #100 |
| 2013 | 84.78% | −0.31% | #98 |
| 2012 | 85.09% | +1.62% | #93 |
| 2011 | 83.47% | +5.19% | #89 |
Analysis
European Union's trade openness was 99.02% in 2025, a rise of +7.37% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 99.02% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
European Union's trade openness was 99.02% in 2025. Ranked 77th globally. This represents a 8.0% increase from the previous year.
European Union's trade openness peaked at 103.71% in 2022.
The lowest trade openness in European Union was 39.81% in 1971.
European Union ranks 77th globally in trade openness as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
European Union's trade openness is projected to reach 99.02% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The trade openness of European Union in 2025 was 99.02%. This ranks 77th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_european-union_trade-openness,
title = {European Union Trade Openness},
url = {https://historysaid.com/european-union/trade-openness/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}