External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Albania
Albania: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -5.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Albania, 1980–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Albania is -5.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.0% on the previous year and up 67.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Albania peaked at 1.5% in 1981 and was at its lowest, -83.8%, in 1992.
That places Albania 113th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Albania, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.4% | — |
| 1981 | 1.5% | +261.3% |
| 1982 | -4.7% | -406.8% |
| 1983 | -2.7% | -42.0% |
| 1984 | -2.0% | -24.8% |
| 1985 | -2.3% | +12.7% |
| 1986 | -0.4% | -81.5% |
| 1987 | -0.1% | -76.5% |
| 1988 | -2.9% | +2847.3% |
| 1989 | -2.9% | -2.0% |
| 1990 | -8.6% | +199.6% |
| 1991 | -21.1% | +144.6% |
| 1992 | -83.8% | +297.1% |
| 1993 | -48.6% | -42.0% |
| 1994 | -29.1% | -40.0% |
| 1995 | -15.6% | -46.5% |
| 1996 | -21.4% | +37.3% |
| 1997 | -24.6% | +15.1% |
| 1998 | -24.7% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | -16.9% | -31.3% |
| 2000 | -22.5% | +33.0% |
| 2001 | -23.0% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | -25.6% | +11.4% |
| 2003 | -24.5% | -4.5% |
| 2004 | -21.9% | -10.5% |
| 2005 | -24.2% | +10.5% |
| 2006 | -23.2% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | -25.7% | +10.6% |
| 2008 | -26.1% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | -24.0% | -7.9% |
| 2010 | -20.3% | -15.5% |
| 2011 | -22.6% | +11.2% |
| 2012 | -18.7% | -17.0% |
| 2013 | -18.0% | -3.9% |
| 2014 | -18.9% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | -17.1% | -9.2% |
| 2016 | -16.7% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | -14.8% | -11.3% |
| 2018 | -13.5% | -8.9% |
| 2019 | -13.5% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | -14.4% | +6.9% |
| 2021 | -13.3% | -7.7% |
| 2022 | -10.3% | -22.7% |
| 2023 | -5.5% | -46.5% |
| 2024 | -6.9% | +24.8% |
| 2025 | -5.5% | -20.0% |
Albania compared with similar countries
- Albania's -5.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -4.0%, 1.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Albania's -5.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8%. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Albania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -2847.3% | -0.1% | -2.9% |
| 1982 | -406.8% | 1.5% | -4.7% |
| 1992 | -297.1% | -21.1% | -83.8% |
| 1981 | +261.3% | 0.4% | 1.5% |
| 1990 | -199.6% | -2.9% | -8.6% |
| 1991 | -144.6% | -8.6% | -21.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -1.6% | -4.7% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | -29.5% | -83.8% | -8.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -24.1% | -26.1% | -21.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | -17.4% | -22.6% | -13.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -9.3% | -14.4% | -5.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Albania
More economy & growth data for Albania
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.74 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.47 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 341.64 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0112 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 145.41 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.85 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 8.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0606 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 788.1 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 32.02 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Albania?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Albania was -5.5% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Albania?
- The highest recorded value was 1.5% in 1981.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Albania?
- The lowest recorded value was -83.8% in 1992.
- How does Albania rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Albania ranks 113th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Albania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Albania data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.