External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Bahamas
Bahamas: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -3.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Bahamas, 1977–2024
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 Bahamas is -3.7%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 296.7% on the previous year and up 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Bahamas peaked at 16.5% in 1977 and was at its lowest, -13.5%, in 2011.
Bahamas ranks 99th 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 Bahamas, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 16.5% | — |
| 1978 | 15.1% | -8.2% |
| 1979 | 8.7% | -42.8% |
| 1980 | 7.5% | -13.4% |
| 1981 | 5.0% | -33.2% |
| 1982 | 6.2% | +24.4% |
| 1983 | 8.6% | +37.2% |
| 1984 | 5.3% | -38.2% |
| 1985 | 5.5% | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 5.9% | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 5.5% | -6.7% |
| 1989 | -3.3% | -160.5% |
| 1990 | -1.8% | -46.1% |
| 1991 | -4.2% | +134.4% |
| 1992 | -1.0% | -77.1% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -159.3% |
| 1994 | -2.4% | -511.4% |
| 1995 | -5.4% | +127.5% |
| 1996 | -9.8% | +82.2% |
| 1997 | -6.0% | -38.9% |
| 1998 | -8.4% | +40.8% |
| 1999 | -2.8% | -66.8% |
| 2000 | -3.5% | +27.3% |
| 2001 | -4.4% | +22.7% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -147.6% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | -73.1% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -23.1% |
| 2005 | -3.9% | -1004.7% |
| 2006 | -10.9% | +182.0% |
| 2007 | -7.8% | -28.4% |
| 2008 | -8.4% | +7.8% |
| 2009 | -8.1% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | -8.8% | +7.7% |
| 2011 | -13.5% | +53.5% |
| 2012 | -8.0% | -40.6% |
| 2013 | -4.8% | -39.5% |
| 2014 | -5.8% | +20.2% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | -134.2% |
| 2016 | -1.5% | -176.0% |
| 2017 | -4.9% | +223.5% |
| 2018 | -1.7% | -66.2% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | -171.2% |
| 2020 | -6.9% | -685.0% |
| 2021 | -10.0% | +45.3% |
| 2022 | -1.7% | -83.3% |
| 2023 | -0.9% | -44.4% |
| 2024 | -3.7% | +296.7% |
Bahamas compared with similar countries
- Bahamas's -3.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%. (72 countries reporting)
- Bahamas's -3.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is -2.1%, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Bahamas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | -1004.7% | 0.4% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | -685.0% | 1.2% | -6.9% |
| 1994 | -511.4% | 0.6% | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.4% | 8.7% | 16.5% | 3 |
| 1980s | 5.1% | -3.3% | 8.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | -4.1% | -9.8% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -4.4% | -10.9% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -4.6% | -13.5% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.6% | -10.0% | -0.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bahamas
- 96 Niger -2.4% compare
- 97 Benin -3.0% compare
- 98 United States of America -3.1% compare
- 100 Sri Lanka -3.9% compare
- 101 Bolivia, Plurinational State of -4.1% compare
- 102 Dominican Republic -4.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Bahamas
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.9419 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 162.94 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0103 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 406.05 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 240.55 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -25.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0152 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 599.46 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.79 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Bahamas?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Bahamas was -3.7% in 2024, 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 Bahamas?
- The highest recorded value was 16.5% in 1977.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Bahamas?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.5% in 2011.
- How does Bahamas rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Bahamas ranks 99th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Bahamas?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bahamas 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.