Foreword From
Daniel Griswold
Freedom-loving people everywhere should thank Americans for Tax Reform and their global partners for this useful and comprehensive 2021 edition of the Trade Barrier Index (TBI). The index lights the path toward policies that are more likely to promote freedom and prosperity for people around the world.
The TBI measures not just tariffs but behind-the-border regulations that can stifle
Read The Full Foreword
Only 13% of the world's people live in the freest markets while 50% live behind high protectionist trade walls.
Between 2019 and 2021 digital trade barriers increased dramatically led by Europe and Asia.
In response to COVID-19 countries slightly reduced Non-Tariff Barriers to ease the trade of medical equipment.
Only 13% of the world's people live in the freest markets while 50% live behind high protectionist trade walls.
Between 2019 and 2021 digital trade barriers increased dramatically led by Europe and Asia.
In response to COVID-19 countries slightly reduced Non-Tariff Barriers to ease the trade of medical equipment.
Brexit has resulted in fewer trade barriers between the UK and the rest of the world, allowing the UK to be the most improved in 2021.
India and China deploy the most tariffs, services restrictions, and non-tariff barriers greatly restricting trade.
Lower trade barriers are strongly associated with prosperity & freedom; higher trade barriers with corruption & abuse of press.
Brexit has resulted in fewer trade barriers between the UK and the rest of the world, allowing the UK to be the most improved in 2021
India and China deploy the most tariffs, services restrictions, and non-tariff barriers greatly restricting trade
Lower trade barriers are strongly associated with prosperity & freedom; higher trade barriers with corruption & abuse of press.
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| Name | Region | Income | Score | Global Rank |
Regional Rank |
Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Countries - Click on a country's name to see its individual profile page.
| Name | Region | Income | Score | Global Rank |
Regional Rank |
Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Asia | High Income | 2.7 | 1 | 1 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Hong Kong | Asia | High Income | 2.83 | 2 | 2 | 2019 | Compare | |
| New Zealand | Oceania | High Income | 2.86 | 3 | 1 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Netherlands | Western Europe | High Income | 2.93 | 4 | 1 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Sweden | Western Europe | High Income | 3.07 | 5 | 2 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Ireland | Western Europe | High Income | 3.13 | 6 | 3 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Poland | Western Europe | High Income | 3.15 | 7 | 4 | 2019 | Compare | |
| United Kingdom | Western Europe | High Income | 3.17 | 8 | 5 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Luxembourg | Western Europe | High Income | 3.21 | 9 | 6 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Canada | North America | High Income | 3.21 | 10 | 1 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Belgium | Western Europe | High Income | 3.22 | 11 | 7 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Germany | Western Europe | High Income | 3.23 | 12 | 8 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Finland | Western Europe | High Income | 3.23 | 13 | 9 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Czech Republic | Western Europe | High Income | 3.26 | 14 | 10 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Austria | Western Europe | High Income | 3.3 | 15 | 11 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Denmark | Western Europe | High Income | 3.3 | 16 | 12 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Australia | Oceania | High Income | 3.32 | 17 | 2 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Estonia | Western Europe | High Income | 3.32 | 18 | 13 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Switzerland | Western Europe | High Income | 3.33 | 19 | 14 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Israel | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 3.35 | 20 | 1 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Lithuania | Western Europe | High Income | 3.36 | 21 | 15 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Portugal | Western Europe | High Income | 3.38 | 22 | 16 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Slovenia | Western Europe | High Income | 3.39 | 23 | 17 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Cyprus | Western Europe | High Income | 3.41 | 24 | 18 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Malta | Western Europe | High Income | 3.41 | 25 | 19 | 2019 | Compare | |
| France | Western Europe | High Income | 3.42 | 26 | 20 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Spain | Western Europe | High Income | 3.43 | 27 | 21 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Brunei Darussalam | Asia | High Income | 3.45 | 28 | 3 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Romania | Western Europe | Upper Middle Income | 3.45 | 29 | 22 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Slovak Republic | Western Europe | High Income | 3.46 | 30 | 23 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Hungary | Western Europe | High Income | 3.48 | 31 | 24 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Peru | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 3.48 | 32 | 1 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Bulgaria | Western Europe | Upper Middle Income | 3.49 | 33 | 25 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Greece | Western Europe | High Income | 3.5 | 34 | 26 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Latvia | Western Europe | High Income | 3.53 | 35 | 27 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Croatia | Western Europe | High Income | 3.55 | 36 | 28 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Italy | Western Europe | High Income | 3.6 | 37 | 29 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Chile | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 3.63 | 38 | 2 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Japan | Asia | High Income | 3.66 | 39 | 4 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Honduras | Latin America & Caribbean | Lower Middle Income | 3.76 | 40 | 3 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Colombia | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 3.77 | 41 | 4 | 2019 | Compare | |
| South Africa | Africa | Upper Middle Income | 3.89 | 42 | 1 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Jordan | Middle East and North Africa | Upper Middle Income | 3.91 | 43 | 2 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Trinidad And Tobago | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 3.91 | 44 | 5 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Guatemala | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 3.93 | 45 | 6 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Ecuador | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 4.03 | 46 | 7 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Qatar | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 4.07 | 47 | 3 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Panama | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 4.07 | 48 | 8 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Oman | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 4.11 | 49 | 4 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Sri Lanka | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 4.14 | 50 | 5 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Costa Rica | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 4.16 | 51 | 9 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Ghana | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.17 | 52 | 2 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Paraguay | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 4.25 | 53 | 10 | 2019 | Compare | |
| United States | North America | High Income | 4.26 | 54 | 2 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Malaysia | Asia | Upper Middle Income | 4.28 | 55 | 6 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Uruguay | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 4.3 | 56 | 11 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Nigeria | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.31 | 57 | 3 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Mexico | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 4.32 | 58 | 12 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Kuwait | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 4.32 | 59 | 5 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Senegal | Africa | Low Income | 4.33 | 60 | 4 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Bolivia | Latin America & Caribbean | Lower Middle Income | 4.37 | 61 | 13 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Bahrain | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 4.37 | 62 | 6 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Lebanon | Middle East and North Africa | Upper Middle Income | 4.39 | 63 | 7 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 4.42 | 64 | 8 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Kazakhstan | Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia | Upper Middle Income | 4.44 | 65 | 1 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Vietnam | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 4.53 | 67 | 7 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Russian Federation | Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia | Upper Middle Income | 4.57 | 68 | 2 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Cameroon | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.53 | 66 | 5 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Pakistan | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.6 | 69 | 9 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Côte D'ivoire | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.67 | 70 | 6 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Argentina | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 4.79 | 71 | 14 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Indonesia | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 4.8 | 72 | 8 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Korea, Rep. | Asia | High Income | 4.84 | 73 | 9 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Tunisia | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.93 | 74 | 10 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Mali | Africa | Low Income | 4.93 | 75 | 7 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Bangladesh | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.95 | 76 | 11 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Brazil | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 5.02 | 77 | 15 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Philippines | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 5.08 | 78 | 10 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Turkey | Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia | Upper Middle Income | 5.09 | 79 | 3 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Morocco | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 5.16 | 80 | 12 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Nepal | Asia | Low Income | 5.16 | 81 | 11 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Venezuela | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 5.21 | 82 | 16 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Thailand | Asia | Upper Middle Income | 5.5 | 83 | 12 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Algeria | Middle East and North Africa | Upper Middle Income | 5.61 | 84 | 13 | 2019 | Compare | |
| China | Asia | Upper Middle Income | 5.96 | 85 | 13 | 2019 | Compare | |
| India | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 6.01 | 86 | 14 | 2019 | Compare | |
| Zimbabwe | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 5.37 | 85 | 11 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Vietnam | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 4.53 | 65 | 6 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Uruguay | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 4.24 | 55 | 10 | 2021 | Compare | |
| United States | North America | High Income | 4.16 | 51 | 2 | 2021 | Compare | |
| United Kingdom | Western Europe | High Income | 2.88 | 4 | 2 | 2021 | Compare | |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 3.81 | 42 | 1 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Ukraine | Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia | Lower Middle Income | 3.82 | 43 | 1 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Turkey | Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia | Upper Middle Income | 4.94 | 76 | 4 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Tunisia | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.97 | 77 | 10 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Trinidad And Tobago | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 3.66 | 39 | 3 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Thailand | Asia | Upper Middle Income | 5.45 | 87 | 11 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Switzerland | Western Europe | High Income | 3.27 | 20 | 14 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Sweden | Western Europe | High Income | 2.98 | 5 | 3 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Sri Lanka | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 4.48 | 61 | 5 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Spain | Western Europe | High Income | 3.41 | 25 | 19 | 2021 | Compare | |
| South Africa | Africa | Upper Middle Income | 3.87 | 44 | 2 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Slovenia | Western Europe | High Income | 3.21 | 17 | 11 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Slovak Republic | Western Europe | High Income | 3.59 | 35 | 27 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Singapore | Asia | High Income | 2.52 | 1 | 1 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Senegal | Africa | Low Income | 4.29 | 56 | 3 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 4.48 | 62 | 6 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Russian Federation | Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia | Upper Middle Income | 4.68 | 69 | 3 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Romania | Western Europe | Upper Middle Income | 3.37 | 24 | 18 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Qatar | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 3.93 | 46 | 3 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Portugal | Western Europe | High Income | 3.32 | 21 | 16 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Poland | Western Europe | High Income | 3.08 | 10 | 6 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Philippines | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 5.09 | 81 | 9 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Peru | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 3.49 | 31 | 1 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Paraguay | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 4.13 | 50 | 8 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Panama | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 3.96 | 48 | 6 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Pakistan | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.68 | 70 | 8 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Oman | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 3.94 | 47 | 4 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Nigeria | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.34 | 57 | 4 | 2021 | Compare | |
| New Zealand | Oceania | High Income | 2.71 | 2 | 1 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Netherlands | Western Europe | High Income | 2.76 | 3 | 1 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Nepal | Asia | Low Income | 5.41 | 86 | 10 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Morocco | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 5.01 | 78 | 11 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Mexico | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 4.37 | 59 | 11 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Mauritius | Africa | High Income | 3.2 | 15 | 1 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Malta | Western Europe | High Income | 3.59 | 36 | 26 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Mali | Africa | Low Income | 5.15 | 82 | 10 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Malaysia | Asia | Upper Middle Income | 4.21 | 53 | 4 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Luxembourg | Western Europe | High Income | 3.27 | 19 | 13 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Lithuania | Western Europe | High Income | 3.34 | 23 | 17 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Lebanon | Middle East and North Africa | Upper Middle Income | 4.8 | 72 | 9 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Latvia | Western Europe | High Income | 3.64 | 38 | 29 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Kuwait | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 4.58 | 67 | 7 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Korea, Rep. | Asia | High Income | 4.83 | 73 | 7 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Kenya | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.43 | 60 | 6 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Kazakhstan | Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia | Upper Middle Income | 4.58 | 66 | 2 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Jordan | Middle East and North Africa | Upper Middle Income | 3.89 | 45 | 2 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Japan | Asia | High Income | 3.49 | 28 | 3 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Italy | Western Europe | High Income | 3.54 | 33 | 25 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Ireland | Western Europe | High Income | 3.07 | 9 | 5 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Indonesia | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 5.08 | 80 | 8 | 2021 | Compare | |
| India | Asia | Lower Middle Income | 6.44 | 90 | 13 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Hungary | Western Europe | High Income | 3.42 | 26 | 20 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Hong Kong | Asia | High Income | 3.01 | 7 | 2 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Honduras | Latin America & Caribbean | Lower Middle Income | 4.01 | 49 | 7 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Guatemala | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 4.49 | 63 | 12 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Greece | Western Europe | High Income | 3.49 | 29 | 23 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Ghana | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.5 | 64 | 7 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Germany | Western Europe | High Income | 3.15 | 13 | 8 | 2021 | Compare | |
| France | Western Europe | High Income | 3.32 | 22 | 15 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Finland | Western Europe | High Income | 3.08 | 11 | 7 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Estonia | Western Europe | High Income | 3.43 | 27 | 21 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Egypt | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 5.23 | 84 | 13 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Ecuador | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 3.75 | 41 | 5 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Denmark | Western Europe | High Income | 3.2 | 16 | 10 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Czech Republic | Western Europe | High Income | 3.17 | 14 | 9 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Cyprus | Western Europe | High Income | 3.52 | 32 | 24 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Croatia | Western Europe | High Income | 3.6 | 37 | 28 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Côte D'ivoire | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.9 | 75 | 9 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Costa Rica | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 4.22 | 54 | 9 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Colombia | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 3.75 | 40 | 4 | 2021 | Compare | |
| China | Asia | Upper Middle Income | 5.71 | 88 | 12 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Chile | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 3.54 | 34 | 2 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Canada | North America | High Income | 2.99 | 6 | 1 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Cameroon | Africa | Lower Middle Income | 4.88 | 74 | 8 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Bulgaria | Western Europe | Upper Middle Income | 3.49 | 30 | 22 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Brazil | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper Middle Income | 5.18 | 83 | 15 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Botswana | Africa | Upper Middle Income | 4.37 | 58 | 5 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Bolivia | Latin America & Caribbean | Lower Middle Income | 4.65 | 68 | 13 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Belgium | Western Europe | High Income | 3.05 | 8 | 4 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Bangladesh | Middle East and North Africa | Lower Middle Income | 5.04 | 79 | 12 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Bahrain | Middle East and North Africa | High Income | 4.2 | 52 | 5 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Austria | Western Europe | High Income | 3.25 | 18 | 12 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Australia | Oceania | High Income | 3.13 | 12 | 2 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Argentina | Latin America & Caribbean | High Income | 4.74 | 71 | 14 | 2021 | Compare | |
| Algeria | Middle East and North Africa | Upper Middle Income | 6.06 | 89 | 14 | 2021 | Compare |