Germany: Imports, percent of GDP

For that indicator, we provide data for Germany from 1970 to 2021. The average value for Germany during that period was 27.82 percent with a minimum of 16.18 percent in 1972 and a maximum of 41.71 percent in 2021. The latest value from 2021 is 41.71 percent. For comparison, the world average in 2021 based on 160 countries is 47.14 percent. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

The imports of Germany and other countries are calculated as the total amount of goods and services produced abroad and sold at home. Imports are often reported as percent of GDP so that we can evaluate their magnitude relative to the size of the economy.

If imports are about 15 percent or less of GDP the economy is considered relatively closed. That, for example, applies to the U.S. In contrast, many small European countries import over 40 percent of the products they consume. They are considered more open to international trade.

Definition: Imports of goods and services represent the value of all goods and other market services received from the rest of the world. They include the value of merchandise, freight, insurance, transport, travel, royalties, license fees, and other services, such as communication, construction, financial, information, business, personal, and government services. They exclude compensation of employees and investment income (formerly called factor services) and transfer payments.