External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Benin
Benin: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -3.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-3.0%
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
97th
of 191 countries
All-time high
-2.1%
in 2005
All-time low
-28.0%
in 1981
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Benin, 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
Benin recorded -3.0% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and up 58.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Benin peaked at -2.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, -28.0%, in 1981.
That places Benin 97th 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 Benin, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -6.0% | — |
| 1961 | -5.0% | -17.3% |
| 1962 | -6.4% | +30.1% |
| 1963 | -7.8% | +21.2% |
| 1964 | -7.1% | -9.0% |
| 1965 | -7.6% | +7.5% |
| 1966 | -9.3% | +22.4% |
| 1967 | -12.1% | +29.5% |
| 1968 | -9.7% | -19.5% |
| 1969 | -9.7% | -0.9% |
| 1970 | -9.3% | -3.8% |
| 1971 | -10.0% | +8.2% |
| 1972 | -12.4% | +23.6% |
| 1973 | -10.3% | -17.1% |
| 1974 | -15.2% | +47.5% |
| 1975 | -18.9% | +24.4% |
| 1976 | -18.0% | -4.5% |
| 1977 | -18.6% | +3.1% |
| 1978 | -18.0% | -3.1% |
| 1979 | -19.5% | +8.2% |
| 1980 | -21.5% | +10.3% |
| 1981 | -28.0% | +30.3% |
| 1982 | -22.3% | -20.4% |
| 1983 | -17.8% | -20.2% |
| 1984 | -11.4% | -36.3% |
| 1985 | -13.0% | +14.5% |
| 1986 | -15.9% | +22.7% |
| 1987 | -15.7% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | -18.3% | +16.6% |
| 1989 | -11.3% | -38.1% |
| 1990 | -7.4% | -34.9% |
| 1991 | -9.3% | +26.9% |
| 1992 | -10.3% | +9.9% |
| 1993 | -10.5% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | -7.7% | -25.9% |
| 1995 | -9.1% | +17.0% |
| 1996 | -3.5% | -61.2% |
| 1997 | -4.4% | +23.8% |
| 1998 | -5.4% | +24.0% |
| 1999 | -8.4% | +54.8% |
| 2000 | -6.1% | -26.7% |
| 2001 | -8.5% | +38.8% |
| 2002 | -4.3% | -49.4% |
| 2003 | -4.3% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | -2.9% | -33.5% |
| 2005 | -2.1% | -26.0% |
| 2006 | -3.7% | +71.9% |
| 2007 | -5.0% | +37.4% |
| 2008 | -3.5% | -30.5% |
| 2009 | -4.8% | +38.7% |
| 2010 | -5.3% | +9.1% |
| 2011 | -5.5% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | -2.9% | -46.7% |
| 2013 | -4.1% | +37.9% |
| 2014 | -2.4% | -40.7% |
| 2015 | -7.3% | +204.0% |
| 2016 | -3.8% | -48.4% |
| 2017 | -7.1% | +87.2% |
| 2018 | -7.2% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | -4.4% | -39.0% |
| 2020 | -5.1% | +15.1% |
| 2021 | -6.2% | +22.2% |
| 2022 | -2.8% | -55.8% |
| 2023 | -4.7% | +69.3% |
| 2024 | -3.0% | -36.4% |
| 2025 | -3.0% | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -8.1% | -12.1% | -5.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | -15.0% | -19.5% | -9.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | -17.5% | -28.0% | -11.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | -7.6% | -10.5% | -3.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | -4.5% | -8.5% | -2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -5.0% | -7.3% | -2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.1% | -6.2% | -2.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More economy & growth data for Benin
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 12.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.0887 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 147.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 8.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 51.62 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 85,605 current LCU per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 5.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.082 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Benin?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Benin was -3.0% 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 Benin?
- The highest recorded value was -2.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was -28.0% in 1981.
- How does Benin rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Benin ranks 97th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin 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.