Switzerland: Merchandise imports (current US$)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Switzerland's merchandise imports (current US$) rose 36.4% on 2024 (from US$371.96 billion to US$507.43 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +6.5% and a typical year strayed about 12.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 41.7% in 2012 and the biggest yearly fall was 15.5% in 1981. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about US$21.52 billion a year. A straight line explains 78% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Switzerland had the 17th highest value of the 204 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Switzerland in the 2025 ranking

• Canada — 14th of 204: US$577.44 billion
• Belgium — 15th of 204: US$537.7 billion
• Spain — 16th of 204: US$513.32 billion
• Singapore — 18th of 204: US$505.84 billion
• Viet Nam — 19th of 204: US$453.78 billion
• Poland — 20th of 204: US$420.91 billion

What this measures

Merchandise imports includes goods whose economic ownership is changed from a non-resident to a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.

Limitations: The value of imports is generally recorded as the cost of the goods when purchased by the importer plus the cost of transport and insurance to the frontier of the importing country - the cost, insurance, and freight (c.i.f.) value, corresponding to the landed cost at the point of entry of foreign goods into the country. A few countries collect import data on a free on board (f.o.b.) basis and adjust them for freight and insurance costs. Countries may report trade according to the general or special system of trade. Under the general system imports include goods imported for domestic consumption and imports into bonded warehouses and free trade zones.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a gap-filled total.

All 66 values

Merchandise imports (current US$) in nearby economies

• Albania — US$10.28 billion (2025)
• Andorra — US$2.18 billion (2025)
• Armenia — US$13.04 billion (2025)
• Austria — US$228.39 billion (2025)
• Azerbaijan — US$24.38 billion (2025)
• Belarus — US$48.37 billion (2025)
• Belgium — US$537.7 billion (2025)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — US$17.33 billion (2025)
• Bulgaria — US$60.89 billion (2025)
• Croatia — US$50.61 billion (2025)
• Cyprus

More private sector & trade data for Switzerland

• Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — 101.73% (2025)
• Merchandise exports (current US$) — US$554.16 billion (2025)
• Agricultural raw materials imports (% of merchandise imports) — 0.38% (2025)
• Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — 4.09% (2025)
• Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) — 2.48% (2025)
• Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) — 50.86% (2025)
• Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) — 2.29% (2025)
• Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World (% of total merchandise imports) — 3.84% (2023)
• Merchandise imports from high-income economies (% of total merchandise imports)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Switzerland's merchandise imports (current US$)?

US$507.43 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 22,902% from US$2.21 billion in 1960 (8.73% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was US$507.43 billion in 2025 and the lowest US$2.21 billion in 1960.

How does Switzerland rank?

17th highest of 204 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in merchandise imports (current US$) unusual for Switzerland?

In 2025, Switzerland's merchandise imports (current US$) rose 36.4% on 2024 (from US$371.96 billion to US$507.43 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +6.5% and a typical year strayed about 12.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator TM.VAL.MRCH.CD.WT, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Trade Organization (WTO) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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