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Trade & investment · Europe & Central Asia · High income
United Kingdom: trade and investment
Exports is 30.6% (2025), 112th of 184 in the world and 45th of 52 in Europe & Central Asia. Imports is 31.9% (2025), 127th of 184 in the world and 47th of 52 in Europe & Central Asia. Trade openness is 62.5% (2025), 125th of 184 in the world and 46th of 52 in Europe & Central Asia.
12 indicators
Trade & investment: United Kingdom in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 30.6%2025 | 112/184 | 45/52 | 25.6% | 28.7% | 29.9% | +2.7 ppsince 2015 | 43.7% | 31.7% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 31.9%2025 | 127/184 | 47/52 | 26.8% | 30.3% | 29.2% | +2.6 ppsince 2015 | 41.0% | 30.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 62.5%2025 | 125/184 | 46/52 | 52.3% | 59.1% | 59.2% | +5.3 ppsince 2015 | 81.8% | 60.5% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -3.1%2025 | 111/185 | 31/50 | -1.8% | -2.8% | -2.9% | +1.8 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $556bn2025 | 14/206 | 6/51 | $283bn | $420bn | $400bn | +19%since 2015 | $10.0tn | $17.5tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 29.2%2024 | 17/170 | 5/47 | · | 23.3% | 23.0% | +7.0 ppsince 2014 | 21.4% | 25.8% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 7.2%2025 | 64/172 | 19/48 | 8.3% | 12.4% | 7.1% | +0.1 ppsince 2015 | 6.3% | 10.4% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 6.7%2025 | 132/172 | 38/48 | 5.3% | 6.1% | 7.6% | +0.5 ppsince 2015 | 10.6% | 8.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 1.0%2022 | 173/184 | 44/46 | 2.4% | 2.1% | 1.3% | −0.5 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 0.9%2025 | 147/197 | 32/51 | 9.8% | 2.7% | 5.8% | −0.6 ppsince 2015 | 1.0% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 0.1%2025 | 160/178 | 46/50 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 11.1m2020 | 22/196 | 14/51 | 25.2m | 30.4m | 11.1m | −63%since 2010 | 1.2bn | 1.5bn | 2.4bn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
United Kingdom and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with United Kingdom. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | 30.6%2025 | 140.1%2025 |
| Imports | 31.9%2025 | 99.9%2025 |
| Trade openness | 62.5%2025 | 240.0%2025 |
| Current account | -3.1%2025 | 6.3%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $556bn2025 | $293bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 29.2%2024 | 53.5%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 7.2%2025 | 0.3%2025 |
| Food exports | 6.7%2025 | 7.4%2025 |
| Average tariff | 1.0%2022 | 1.3%2022 |