External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Belize
Belize: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 1.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Belize, 1980–2024
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 Belize is 1.5%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 57.4% on the previous year and down 61.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Belize peaked at 7.5% in 2012 and was at its lowest, -14.8%, in 1981.
That places Belize 67th out of 191 countries with data for 2024, 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 Belize, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -9.6% | — |
| 1981 | -14.8% | +55.0% |
| 1982 | -14.7% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | -10.7% | -27.6% |
| 1984 | -5.9% | -44.5% |
| 1985 | -8.8% | +49.2% |
| 1986 | -2.7% | -69.8% |
| 1987 | -2.5% | -5.9% |
| 1988 | -5.1% | +101.5% |
| 1989 | -8.0% | +58.3% |
| 1990 | 2.3% | -128.6% |
| 1991 | -7.2% | -415.5% |
| 1992 | 1.7% | -123.5% |
| 1993 | 1.2% | -27.7% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | +74.5% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +44.7% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | +26.5% |
| 1997 | 2.1% | -45.6% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | -50.9% |
| 1999 | -5.2% | -592.5% |
| 2000 | -10.9% | +109.9% |
| 2001 | -9.4% | -13.5% |
| 2002 | -5.8% | -37.8% |
| 2003 | -5.2% | -10.5% |
| 2004 | -1.8% | -65.3% |
| 2005 | -1.5% | -15.2% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -407.0% |
| 2007 | 5.2% | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | -57.4% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | -41.0% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | +388.8% |
| 2011 | 6.5% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | +14.7% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -54.9% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | +14.7% |
| 2015 | -0.9% | -124.2% |
| 2016 | -1.9% | +101.1% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | -201.4% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | +29.8% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -35.7% |
| 2020 | -6.4% | -499.0% |
| 2021 | -3.8% | -40.0% |
| 2022 | -2.7% | -29.8% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -229.0% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | -57.4% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 1.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -4.0%. (52 countries reporting)
- Belize's 1.5% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is -2.1%. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Belize 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | -592.5% | 1.1% | -5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -8.3% | -14.8% | -2.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | -7.2% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.1% | -10.9% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1% | -1.9% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.6% | -6.4% | 3.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More economy & growth data for Belize
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.27 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.54 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0153 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 120.67 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.0711 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0112 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 88.11 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0084 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Belize?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Belize was 1.5% 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 Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 7.5% in 2012.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was -14.8% in 1981.
- How does Belize rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Belize ranks 67th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belize 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.