External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Brunei Darussalam
Brunei Darussalam: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 19.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Brunei Darussalam, 1974–2025
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
In 2025, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Brunei Darussalam stood at 19.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.4% on the previous year and up 34.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Brunei Darussalam peaked at 42.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -5.1%, in 1998.
That places Brunei Darussalam 9th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Brunei Darussalam, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 33.6% | — |
| 1975 | 31.2% | -7.3% |
| 1976 | 35.1% | +12.6% |
| 1977 | 37.0% | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 38.1% | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 37.5% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 37.3% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 37.0% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 34.4% | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 33.6% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 15.9% | -52.6% |
| 1990 | 14.3% | -10.2% |
| 1991 | 15.6% | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 6.6% | -57.8% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -69.9% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | -14.9% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +41.5% |
| 1996 | -0.5% | -119.7% |
| 1997 | -0.9% | +84.9% |
| 1998 | -5.1% | +479.6% |
| 1999 | 5.4% | -206.8% |
| 2000 | 26.9% | +397.4% |
| 2001 | 24.8% | -7.9% |
| 2002 | 20.1% | -18.8% |
| 2003 | 27.8% | +38.1% |
| 2004 | 30.7% | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 35.5% | +15.9% |
| 2006 | 38.8% | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 32.9% | -15.1% |
| 2008 | 42.1% | +28.0% |
| 2009 | 29.1% | -30.9% |
| 2010 | 39.4% | +35.5% |
| 2011 | 39.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 34.7% | -12.2% |
| 2013 | 25.1% | -27.5% |
| 2014 | 33.9% | +34.9% |
| 2015 | 14.5% | -57.2% |
| 2016 | 11.8% | -18.5% |
| 2017 | 14.0% | +18.0% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | -28.6% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | -25.9% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | -40.1% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | +198.9% |
| 2022 | 25.8% | +95.3% |
| 2023 | 16.5% | -35.9% |
| 2024 | 16.0% | -3.6% |
| 2025 | 19.5% | +22.4% |
Brunei Darussalam compared with similar countries
- Brunei Darussalam's 19.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 8.7× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Brunei Darussalam's 19.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -9.4%. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Brunei Darussalam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -479.6% | -0.9% | -5.1% |
| 2000 | +397.4% | 5.4% | 26.9% |
| 1999 | +206.8% | -5.1% | 5.4% |
| 2021 | +198.9% | 4.4% | 13.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.4% | 31.2% | 38.1% | 6 |
| 1980s | 31.7% | 15.9% | 37.3% | 5 |
| 1990s | 4.2% | -5.1% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.9% | 20.1% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.0% | 7.4% | 39.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.9% | 4.4% | 25.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Brunei Darussalam
More economy & growth data for Brunei Darussalam
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 61.81 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 112.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 132.54 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 24.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3651 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 11,770 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 20.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3226 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 10,400 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Brunei Darussalam?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Brunei Darussalam was 19.5% 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 Brunei Darussalam?
- The highest recorded value was 42.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Brunei Darussalam?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.1% in 1998.
- How does Brunei Darussalam rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Brunei Darussalam ranks 9th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Brunei Darussalam?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brunei Darussalam 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.