Trade is the lifeline of the global economy. According to DHL Trade Atlas 2025, Between 2019 and 2024, some countries experienced very fast growth in their trade volumes. Guyana in South America is the world’s fastest growing trading nation which boosted its trade because of its new oil exports. Armenia and Georgia in Eurasia expanded their trade by linking with regional markets. At the same time, several African countries, such as Zimbabwe, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire, saw strong trade growth driven by agriculture and mining.
Key Takeaways
- Guyana is the world’s fastest-growing trading country from 2019 to 2024, with trade increasing by 31% each year.
- Africa is the region on the rise, with countries like Zimbabwe, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Rwanda showing strong trade growth.
- From 2024 to 2029, Zimbabwe and Georgia are expected to be some of the fastest-growing countries for trade, while some former leaders like Armenia will grow much more slowly.
The World’s Fastest Growing Trading Nations (2019–2024)
Trade volume growth is measured by how much a country’s imports and exports increase each year. The following table shows the 20 fastest growing trading nations between 2019 and 2024, along with their forecast for 2024–2029.
| Rank | Country | Annual Trade Volume Growth Rate 2019–24 | Projected Annual Trade Volume Growth Rate 2024–29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 31% | 10% |
| 2 | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 20% | -9% |
| 3 | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | 16% | 3% |
| 4 | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 16% | 1% |
| 5 | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 14% | 16% |
| 6 | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 13% | 5% |
| 7 | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 11% | 6% |
| 8 | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 10% | 8% |
| 9 | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 9% | 4% |
| 10 | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 9% | 5% |
| 11 | 🇦🇱 Albania | 9% | 5% |
| 12 | 🇰🇮 Kiribati | 9% | 2% |
| 13 | 🇻🇨 St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 8% | 2% |
| 14 | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 8% | 6% |
| 15 | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 8% | 7% |
| 16 | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 8% | 13% |
| 17 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 8% | 3% |
| 18 | 🇹🇿 Tanzania (United Republic of) | 7% | 8% |
| 19 | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 7% | 4% |
| 20 | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 6% | 4% |
Source: DHL Trade Atlas 2025.
Guyana
Guyana is the world’s fastest growing trading nation, with 31% annual trade growth from 2019–2024. The discovery and exports of large offshore oil reserves is the main factor that prompted the country’s exports potential. In the forecasted period (2024–2029), Guyana’s trade will keep growing at a strong 10%, though not as fast as before.
Armenia
Armenia’s trade grew by 20% between 2019 and 2024, due to its growing technology sector and rising exports. The country plays an key role as a major trade partner between Russia, the Middle East, and Europe. However, forecasts for 2024–2029 show a -9% decline in Armenia’s trade volume.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) had 16% trade growth from 2019 to 2024. This growth came mainly from exporting minerals like cobalt and copper. These minerals are important for making electric cars and clean energy products. Democratic Republic of the Congo’s trade growth is expected to slow down a lot, to just 3% between 2024 and 2029.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan, a small landlocked country in Central Asia, saw its trade grow by 16%. This is mainly due to gold mining, farming, and remittances. The country’s location in Central Asia lets it trade easily with China, Russia, and nearby countries. But the future does not look good for Kyrgyzstan as from 2024 to 2029; trade is expected to grow by only 1%.
U.S. and China Merchandise Exports as a Share of GDP (1991-2014)
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is one of Africa’s biggest trading nations, with 14% annual growth. Despite past economic problems, the country’s exports of gold, platinum, and farm products have boosted its trade potential.
Even better, trade is expected to grow by 16% from 2024 to 2029. This would make Zimbabwe one of the fastest trade performers in the coming years.
Leading Regions in Trade
Africa is the top performer in the country’s trade volume rank. Countries like Zimbabwe, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, and Guinea are in the top 20 list. Africa’s trade is growing because of natural resources like gold, copper, and oil, along with farm exports and regional trade agreements.
Asia is also a major region with respect to trade. Countries like Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Mongolia are growing their trade potential through regional ties and resource exports.
The Forecast for 2024–2029
Zimbabwe is expected to grow the fastest between 2024 and 2029, with 16% trade growth, making it one of the top trading nation in the world. Georgia is also set to rise, with 13% growth because of its position between Europe and Asia. Guyana is expected to grow strongly at 10%, although not as high as before.
Other countries like Tajikistan (8%), Tanzania (8%), and Guinea (7%) are also expected to perform well. However, some nations will struggle, such as Armenia, which may see a drop of 9%, and Kyrgyzstan, with only 1% growth.
Conclusion
From 2019 to 2024, the fastest-growing trading nations included small states, African economies, and resource-rich countries. Guyana, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, the DRC, and Zimbabwe led the way. Looking ahead, the leaders for 2024–2029 are likely to be Zimbabwe, Georgia, and Guyana. Africa as a region is expected to keep doing well, while some Eurasian countries will slow down.
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