Which differences become visible when exports are compared with domestic output? The figures below use World Bank observations for 2024. The observation period is distinct from the date this article is prepared.
Key takeaways
- Panama ranked 1 with 44.4 % of GDP in 2024.
- Cuba ranked 2 with 42.5 % of GDP in 2024.
- Nicaragua ranked 3 with 41.0 % of GDP in 2024.
Which differences become visible when exports are compared with domestic output?
Exports include goods and services supplied to non-residents. Expressing them relative to GDP makes differently sized economies easier to compare, but export sales and domestic value added are not interchangeable. Imported inputs and re-export activity help explain why a trade ratio is not a measure of domestic production alone.
How to interpret the differences
A larger export ratio is not automatically evidence of greater competitiveness or higher living standards. A small economy with extensive cross-border transactions can have a larger ratio than a much larger exporter measured in dollars. The ranking describes scale relative to GDP rather than success.
A country average, not a regional total
Mean: 29.1 % of GDP in 2024.
This is an unweighted mean across the reported countries. Each country contributes equally; the result is not a GDP-weighted or population-weighted regional aggregate.
What to investigate next
Use the ranking to frame questions about economic structure and exposure to foreign demand. Product composition, services activity and trading partners require separate sources. Avoid treating an exports-to-GDP ratio as a forecast of future growth.
| Rank | Country | Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panama | 44.4% |
| 2 | Cuba | 42.5% |
| 3 | Nicaragua | 41.0% |
| 4 | Paraguay | 37.7% |
| 5 | Costa Rica | 37.5% |
| 6 | Mexico | 37.3% |
| 7 | Honduras | 33.9% |
| 8 | Chile | 33.7% |
| 9 | El Salvador | 32.7% |
| 10 | Canada | 32.5% |
| 11 | Ecuador | 30.5% |
| 12 | Peru | 28.9% |
| 13 | Uruguay | 28.2% |
| 14 | Dominican Republic | 22.8% |
| 15 | Bolivia | 21.4% |
| 16 | Brazil | 17.9% |
| 17 | Colombia | 16.1% |
| 18 | Guatemala | 15.9% |
| 19 | Argentina | 15.2% |
| 20 | United States | 11.0% |
Source: World Bank WDI (NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS)
Methodology: World Bank indicator NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS for 20 reported countries from the configured 20-country comparison in 2024; exact source-reported values ranked descending without imputation or unit conversion. Missing observations remain excluded.
Methodology
World Bank indicator NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS for 20 reported countries from the configured 20-country comparison in 2024; exact source-reported values ranked descending without imputation or unit conversion. Missing observations remain excluded.
Caveats
Coverage is limited to the configured selected-country universe and the stated reference year. Missing observations are not imputed.
Data attribution and reproducibility
National accounts sources and World Bank WDI. Indicator definitions and original provider credits. Data distributed under CC BY 4.0. WorldDataRank calculated the ordering and country mean and created the visual. Data retrieved 2026-10-27T19:35:36Z. The upstream release date is not supplied in this snapshot; it is not inferred from the observation year. This publication is independent and is not endorsed by the data providers.