Which Countries Rely Most on Imports

Global Context

· Imports account for 28% of global GDP.

· Many small or trade-oriented economies exceed 50% import-to-GDP ratios.

· Import dependence is a major foreign policy issue, with focus on critical minerals, semiconductors, and energy security.

· EU average: 46% of GDP from imports, with efforts to reduce reliance on Russian oil.

Top Import-Dependent Economies (2024 data)

· Hong Kong SAR: 178% (world’s highest, driven by re-exports; over half from China).

· Luxembourg: 160%.

· San Marino: 155%.

· Singapore: 144% (major entrepôt economy).

· Other high-dependence nations: Djibouti (115%), Nauru (111%), Seychelles (103%), Ireland (102%), Kiribati (102%), Malta (100%).

Island & Smaller Economies

· Cuba: 82% (imports 80% of food, mainly from Netherlands & Spain).

· Taiwan: 49% (heavily reliant on imported oil and derivatives, crucial for semiconductor industry).

· Cyprus, Maldives, Mauritius, Palau, Marshall Islands also show high reliance due to limited domestic production.

North America

· Mexico: 38% (highest in region).

· Canada: 33%.

· United States: 14% (sixth-lowest globally despite $3.4 trillion imports, due to large, diverse economy).

Lowest Import Dependence

· Sudan: 1% (trade collapse due to crisis).

· Venezuela: 9% (corruption and economic disruption).

Overall Insight

Import reliance varies sharply: trade hubs and small economies depend heavily on imports, while large, diversified economies like the U.S. remain relatively self-sufficient. This divergence shapes global supply chain strategies and geopolitical priorities.

[ABS News Service/05.02.2026]

Key Takeaways

· Globally, imported goods and services are equal to 28% of GDP.

· Despite importing $3.4 trillion of goods, the U.S. has one of the lowest import-to-GDP ratios because of its massive and diverse economy.

· Several small island economies have extremely high import-to-GDP ratios, including Cuba (82%) and Taiwan (49%), given limited domestic production.

Global imports are valued at approximately 28% of GDP, with trillions of dollars in goods and services moving across borders each year.

In dozens of countries, imports exceed 50% of GDP, especially in trade-oriented nations and smaller economies. While elevated ratios are common in major trade hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong, they can also signal a heavier reliance on imported food and commodities.

Import Reliance Amid Global Uncertainty

Import dependence has become a central issue in foreign policy, as many countries work to de-risk their supply chains.

Among the biggest focus areas are critical minerals and advanced semiconductors. Beyond this, European countries have ramped up renewable energy to reduce reliance on Russian oil. As a whole, imports account for 46% of GDP across EU countries.

Below, we show goods and services imports as a share of GDP by country, with data as of 2024 (or the latest data available):

Rank	Country	Imports as a Share of GDP (%)
1.	🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR	178
2	🇱🇺 Luxembourg	160
3	🇸🇲 San Marino	155
4	🇸🇬 Singapore	144
5	🇩🇯 Djibouti	115
6	🇳🇷 Nauru	111
7	🇸🇨 Seychelles	103
8	🇮🇪 Ireland	102
9	🇰🇮 Kiribati	102
10	🇲🇹 Malta	100
11	🇸🇴 Somalia	99
12	🇱🇸 Lesotho	99
13	🇨🇾 Cyprus	93
14	🇦🇪 UAE	92
15	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	86
16	🇹🇱 Timor-Leste	85
17	🇰🇬 Kyrgyz Republic	84
18	🇻🇳 Vietnam	84
19	🇨🇺 Cuba	82
20	🇲🇭 Marshall Islands	82
21	🇵🇼 Palau	80
22	🇧🇪 Belgium	80
23	🇲🇺 Mauritius	78
24	🇲🇻 Maldives	78
25	🇦🇲 Armenia	76
26	🇦🇼 Aruba	76
27	🇪🇪 Estonia	75
28	🇸🇮 Slovenia	75
29	🇲🇰 North Macedonia	75
30	🇱🇧 Lebanon	74
31	🇰🇭 Cambodia	72
32	🇽🇰 Kosovo	72
33	🇫🇲 Micronesia	71
34	🇳🇱 Netherlands	71
35	🇭🇺 Hungary	71
36	🇸🇧 Solomon Islands	71
37	🇧🇭 Bahrain	70
38	🇲🇳 Mongolia	70
39	🇱🇹 Lithuania	69
40	🇳🇦 Namibia	68
41	🇱🇻 Latvia	67
42	🇧🇾 Belarus	67
43	🇹🇭 Thailand	67
44	🇲🇪 Montenegro	66
45	🇲🇾 Malaysia	66
46	🇹🇴 Tonga	65
47	🇨🇿 Czechia	63
48	🇨🇭 Switzerland	62
49	🇩🇰 Denmark	61
50	🇵🇸 West Bank and Gaza	60
51	🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam	58
52	🇷🇸 Serbia	58
53	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	58
54	🇭🇳 Honduras	58
55	🇲🇩 Moldova	57
56	🇯🇴 Jordan	57
57	🇱🇾 Libya	57
58	🇬🇳 Guinea	56
59	🇹🇳 Tunisia	56
60	🇬🇪 Georgia	56
61	🇭🇷 Croatia	55
62	🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina	54
63	🇨🇻 Cabo Verde	54
64	🇧🇬 Bulgaria	54
65	🇧🇿 Belize	54
66	🇸🇿 Eswatini	54
67	🇧🇹 Bhutan	53
68	🇦🇹 Austria	53
69	🇲🇿 Mozambique	53
70	🇲🇷 Mauritania	52
71	🇸🇻 El Salvador	52
72	🇨🇩 DR Congo	52
73	🇸🇪 Sweden	52
74	🇫🇴 Faroe Islands	51
75	🇬🇱 Greenland	51
76	🇦🇫 Afghanistan	51
77	🇲🇦 Morocco	50
78	🇲🇴 Macao SAR	50
79	🇹🇼 Taiwan	49
80	🇼🇸 Samoa	49
81	🇴🇲 Oman	49
82	🇹🇯 Tajikistan	48
83	🇺🇦 Ukraine	48
84	🇵🇱 Poland	48
85	🇬🇷 Greece	48
86	🇵🇫 French Polynesia	46
87	🇵🇹 Portugal	44
88	🇧🇼 Botswana	44
89	🇮🇸 Iceland	44
90	🇸🇳 Senegal	43
91	🇦🇱 Albania	43
92	🇵🇷 Puerto Rico (US)	43
93	🇷🇴 Romania	42
94	🇫🇮 Finland	42
95	🇧🇸 Bahamas	41
96	🇨🇬 Congo	40
97	🇰🇷 South Korea	40
98	🇵🇭 Philippines	40
99	🇵🇾 Paraguay	40
100	🇵🇦 Panama	39
101	🇷🇼 Rwanda	39
102	🇰🇼 Kuwait	38
103	🇺🇿 Uzbekistan	38
104	🇲🇽 Mexico	38
105	🇩🇪 Germany	38
106	🇦🇿 Azerbaijan	37
107	🇰🇲 Comoros	34
108	🇬🇭 Ghana	34
109	🇫🇷 France	34
110	🇳🇴 Norway	34
111	🇬🇲 Gambia	33
112	🇮🇶 Iraq	33
113	🇳🇵 Nepal	33
114	🇪🇸 Spain	33
115	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	33
116	🇨🇦 Canada	33
117	🇶🇦 Qatar	32
118	🇧🇫 Burkina Faso	32
119	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	32
120	🇲🇬 Madagascar	32
121	🇬🇹 Guatemala	31
122	🇨🇫 Central African Republic	31
123	🇲🇼 Malawi	31
124	🇮🇹 Italy	30
125	🇨🇱 Chile	30
126	🇿🇦 South Africa	30
127	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	29
128	🇳🇨 New Caledonia	29
129	🇮🇷 Iran	29
130	🇿🇲 Zambia	28
131	🇬🇦 Gabon	27
132	🇲🇱 Mali	27
133	🇹🇷 Turkiye	27
134	🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau	27
135	🇪🇨 Ecuador	27
136	🇳🇿 New Zealand	26
137	🇮🇱 Israel	26
138	🇺🇬 Uganda	26
139	🇰🇿 Kazakhstan	26
140	🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia	26
141	🇧🇴 Bolivia	26
142	🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea	25
143	🇨🇮 Cote d'Ivoire	25
144	🇺🇾 Uruguay	24
145	🇯🇵 Japan	24
146	🇮🇳 India	23
147	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	23
148	🇸🇱 Sierra Leone	23
149	🇪🇬 Egypt,	23
150	🇧🇲 Bermuda	23
151	🇰🇪 Kenya	23
152	🇵🇪 Peru	23
153	🇳🇪 Niger	23
154	🇦🇺 Australia	23
155	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	23
156	🇧🇯 Benin	22
157	🇹🇿 Tanzania	22
158	🇨🇴 Colombia	21
159	🇮🇩 Indonesia	20
160	🇩🇿 Algeria	20
161	🇦🇴 Angola	19
162	🇭🇹 Haiti	19
163	🇨🇲 Cameroon	19
164	🇹🇩 Chad	18
165	🇧🇷 Brazil	18
166	🇷🇺 Russia	18
167	🇵🇰 Pakistan	17
168	🇨🇳 China	17
169	🇧🇩 Bangladesh	16
170	🇺🇸 United States	14
171	🇦🇷 Argentina	13
172	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	12
173	🇹🇲 Turkmenistan	11
174	🇻🇪 Venezuela	9
175	🇸🇩 Sudan	1

Hong Kong has the highest import-to-GDP ratio in the world at 178%, driven largely by its role as a major re-export hub.

More than half of these re-exported goods originate in China, passing through Hong Kong before being shipped to the rest of the world. In total, the value of Hong Kong’s re-exports exceeds half a trillion dollars.

Singapore, with an import-to-GDP ratio of 144%, is similarly a key re-export—or entrepôt—economy.

Meanwhile, island nations such as Cyprus, Cuba, and Taiwan tend to be more import-dependent due to limited domestic production. In Cuba, up to 80% of food is imported, mainly from the Netherlands and Spain.

Moreover, Taiwan is heavily reliant on imported energy, with most of its oil shipped from the Middle East. The country also imports billions of dollars’ worth of oil derivatives from Russia, which are essential inputs in semiconductor manufacturing.

In North America, Mexico has the highest import-to-GDP ratio at 38%, followed by Canada at 33%. Despite recording $3.4 trillion in imports in 2024, the U.S. has the sixth-lowest import dependence globally, at 14%, given the sheer size of its economy and diverse domestic production.

Also sitting at the bottom are Sudan (1%) and Venezuela (9%), where ongoing crises and corruption have severely disrupted trade flows.