The World’s Most Import-Dependent Countries
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Key Takeaways
- Hong Kong imports goods equal to 178% of GDP, the highest import-to-GDP ratio in the world.
- The UAE’s imports total 92% of GDP, with the country importing most of its food supply.
Geopolitical tensions are pushing trade into the spotlight, with many countries looking to diversify their imports.
However, the most import-dependent economies are often small islands or landlocked nations. In Hong Kong, for example, 99% of fossil fuels are imported to meet energy needs. Cuba imports up to 80% of its food, driven by low domestic production.
This graphic shows the countries with the highest imports as a share of GDP, based on data from the World Bank.
Ranked: The Top 30 Most Import-Dependent Countries
Below, we show the countries with the highest import-to-GDP ratios in 2024 (or the latest available data):
| Rank | Country or Entity | Imports as a Share of GDP (%) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hong Kong SAR |
178 | Asia |
| 2 |  Luxembourg |
160 | Europe |
| 3 |  San Marino |
155 | Europe |
| 4 |  Singapore |
144 | Asia |
| 5 |  Djibouti |
115 | Africa |
| 6 |  Nauru |
111 | Oceania |
| 7 |  Seychelles |
103 | Africa |
| 8 |  Ireland |
102 | Europe |
| 9 |  Kiribati |
102 | Oceania |
| 10 |  Malta |
100 | Europe |
| 11 |  Somalia |
99 | Africa |
| 12 |  Lesotho |
99 | Africa |
| 13 |  Cyprus |
93 | Asia |
| 14 |  UAE |
92 | Asia |
| 15 |  Slovak Republic |
86 | Europe |
| 16 |  Timor-Leste |
85 | Asia |
| 17 |  Kyrgyz Republic |
84 | Asia |
| 18 |  Vietnam |
84 | Asia |
| 19 |  Cuba |
82 | North America |
| 20 |  Marshall Islands |
82 | Oceania |
| 21 |  Palau |
80 | Oceania |
| 22 |  Belgium |
80 | Europe |
| 23 |  Mauritius |
78 | Africa |
| 24 |  Maldives |
78 | Asia |
| 25 |  Armenia |
76 | Asia |
| 26 |  Aruba |
76 | North America |
| 27 |  Estonia |
75 | Europe |
| 28 |  Slovenia |
75 | Europe |
| 29 |  North Macedonia |
75 | Europe |
| 30 |  Lebanon |
74 | Asia |
With imports equal to 178% of GDP, Hong Kong ranks first globally.
As one of the world’s busiest shipping hubs, many goods enter Hong Kong and are then re-exported elsewhere. Because imports are counted at full value, this inflates its import-to-GDP ratio.
Other trade and financial hubs—including Luxembourg, San Marino, and Singapore—show similarly high import shares for the same reason.
Beyond these hubs, several small island nations such as Nauru, Seychelles, and Kiribati post import values above 100% of GDP. Moreover, 26 of the top 30 most import-dependent countries have populations under 10 million.
The UAE is also heavily reliant on imports—especially food—making it more exposed to supply chain disruptions. Notably, as much as 90% of its food is imported.
In Europe, landlocked Slovakia ranks among the most import-dependent. It was also one of the few European countries exempted from the Russia oil ban to mitigate shortages, with Russia supplying 87% of its oil.
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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on global oil trade flows.
