External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Australia
Australia: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 0.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.6%
Change on year
down 72.0%
World rank
75th
of 191 countries
All-time high
5.2%
in 2022
All-time low
-3.3%
in 1982
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Australia, 1960–2025
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
Australia recorded 0.6% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of down 72.0% on the previous year and up 138.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Australia peaked at 5.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, -3.3%, in 1982.
Australia ranks 75th of 191 countries on this measure, 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 Australia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -1.1% | — |
| 1961 | -2.6% | +145.7% |
| 1962 | 1.3% | -150.0% |
| 1963 | -0.8% | -163.1% |
| 1964 | 1.2% | -241.7% |
| 1965 | -2.0% | -274.4% |
| 1966 | -2.2% | +7.4% |
| 1967 | -1.0% | -54.1% |
| 1968 | -2.2% | +116.7% |
| 1969 | -1.4% | -37.0% |
| 1970 | -0.2% | -82.3% |
| 1971 | -0.3% | +12.7% |
| 1972 | 0.8% | -409.4% |
| 1973 | 3.1% | +267.8% |
| 1974 | -0.1% | -102.1% |
| 1975 | -0.5% | +601.6% |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -130.7% |
| 1977 | -0.6% | -552.6% |
| 1978 | -1.0% | +53.1% |
| 1979 | -1.0% | +8.6% |
| 1980 | 0.5% | -150.2% |
| 1981 | -1.8% | -447.8% |
| 1982 | -3.3% | +79.7% |
| 1983 | -2.0% | -38.3% |
| 1984 | -1.4% | -29.7% |
| 1985 | -2.0% | +43.3% |
| 1986 | -3.1% | +49.9% |
| 1987 | -1.6% | -47.9% |
| 1988 | -0.7% | -58.7% |
| 1989 | -1.8% | +177.5% |
| 1990 | -1.9% | +5.1% |
| 1991 | -0.1% | -93.1% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | -305.3% |
| 1993 | -0.3% | -217.8% |
| 1994 | -0.5% | +60.6% |
| 1995 | -2.0% | +281.4% |
| 1996 | -0.5% | -76.9% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | -160.5% |
| 1998 | -0.9% | -420.1% |
| 1999 | -2.4% | +178.1% |
| 2000 | -2.2% | -11.7% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -104.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | -95.1% |
| 2003 | -2.1% | -49436.7% |
| 2004 | -2.7% | +28.6% |
| 2005 | -2.7% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | -1.8% | -31.7% |
| 2007 | -1.6% | -11.4% |
| 2008 | -2.5% | +55.3% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -111.0% |
| 2010 | -0.9% | -430.5% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | -210.2% |
| 2012 | -0.2% | -117.4% |
| 2013 | -1.3% | +640.9% |
| 2014 | -0.3% | -76.6% |
| 2015 | -1.5% | +396.1% |
| 2016 | -2.4% | +57.8% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -112.8% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -83.2% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | +3989.4% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | +59.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | +12.6% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | +37.5% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | -16.7% |
| 2024 | 2.1% | -51.9% |
| 2025 | 0.6% | -72.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.1% | -2.6% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | -1.0% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.7% | -3.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.8% | -2.4% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.5% | -2.7% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.3% | -2.4% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | 0.6% | 5.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 14.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0345 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 2,249 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.2315 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 15,077 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 8.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 0.3577 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Australia?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Australia was 0.6% 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.3% in 1982.
- How does Australia rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Australia ranks 75th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 138.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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.
Download this data
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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.