HC Deb 14 April 1981 vol 3 cc103-4W
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the United Kingdom's gross national product was (a) exported and (b) imported, as compared with other members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, during the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. Lawson

Estimates of exports and imports of goods and services in 1979 as percentages of gross domestic product at market prices are shown below.

Per cent, of GDP at market prices—1979
Exports Imports
United Kingdom 29 29
Australia 19 18
Austria 37 38
Belgium 58 60
Canada 28 27
Denmark 29 33
Finland 32 31
France 22 22
West Germany 26 25
Greece 16 25
Iceland 44 42
Ireland 54 71
Italy 28 27
Japan *12 *13
Luxembourg *83 *83
Netherlands 52 52
New Zealand *29 *31
Norway 45 43
Portugal *26 *35
Spain 15 15
Sweden 30 32
Switzerland 35 36
Turkey *6 *11
United States of America 9 10
Yugoslavia †l5 †21
*Estimates
†1978

Source: National Accounts of OECD Countries, 1950–1979, Volume I. Estimates of gross national product in 1979 are not readily available for all countries.

Forward to