External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 5.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Burkina Faso, 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
In 2025, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Burkina Faso stood at 5.0%. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 247.9% on the previous year and up 172.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Burkina Faso peaked at 5.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, -23.4%, in 1982.
Burkina Faso ranks 42nd of 191 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -11.0% | — |
| 1961 | -10.4% | -5.6% |
| 1962 | -10.2% | -1.8% |
| 1963 | -10.1% | -0.8% |
| 1964 | -8.7% | -13.6% |
| 1965 | -6.7% | -22.9% |
| 1966 | -6.6% | -1.9% |
| 1967 | -9.0% | +36.4% |
| 1968 | -9.1% | +0.9% |
| 1969 | -10.7% | +18.0% |
| 1970 | -10.7% | -0.3% |
| 1971 | -14.4% | +34.9% |
| 1972 | -14.9% | +3.3% |
| 1973 | -16.6% | +11.5% |
| 1974 | -16.2% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | -22.8% | +41.2% |
| 1976 | -18.8% | -17.5% |
| 1977 | -22.5% | +19.6% |
| 1978 | -20.3% | -9.8% |
| 1979 | -21.0% | +3.7% |
| 1980 | -22.3% | +6.1% |
| 1981 | -22.2% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | -23.4% | +5.7% |
| 1983 | -21.7% | -7.4% |
| 1984 | -17.8% | -17.9% |
| 1985 | -21.1% | +18.6% |
| 1986 | -20.0% | -5.3% |
| 1987 | -16.7% | -16.3% |
| 1988 | -16.1% | -3.5% |
| 1989 | -14.9% | -7.7% |
| 1990 | -13.5% | -9.4% |
| 1991 | -12.9% | -4.4% |
| 1992 | -10.7% | -17.2% |
| 1993 | -11.7% | +9.7% |
| 1994 | -10.8% | -7.6% |
| 1995 | -12.5% | +15.2% |
| 1996 | -17.1% | +36.8% |
| 1997 | -15.8% | -7.4% |
| 1998 | -15.3% | -3.0% |
| 1999 | -18.5% | +21.0% |
| 2000 | -17.4% | -6.0% |
| 2001 | -13.6% | -22.2% |
| 2002 | -13.6% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | -11.9% | -12.2% |
| 2004 | -13.7% | +15.0% |
| 2005 | -14.5% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | -13.2% | -8.9% |
| 2007 | -13.1% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | -15.1% | +15.3% |
| 2009 | -12.7% | -15.7% |
| 2010 | -8.0% | -36.8% |
| 2011 | -5.1% | -36.5% |
| 2012 | -8.0% | +57.5% |
| 2013 | -9.9% | +22.9% |
| 2014 | -5.0% | -49.8% |
| 2015 | -6.9% | +38.6% |
| 2016 | -6.1% | -11.8% |
| 2017 | -6.4% | +5.0% |
| 2018 | -4.4% | -30.3% |
| 2019 | -1.9% | -57.3% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | -248.6% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | +12.8% |
| 2022 | -5.1% | -260.2% |
| 2023 | -5.3% | +3.3% |
| 2024 | -3.4% | -36.0% |
| 2025 | 5.0% | -247.9% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 5.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is -11.3%. (22 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 5.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.9%. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Burkina Faso 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -260.2% | 3.2% | -5.1% |
| 2020 | +248.6% | -1.9% | 2.8% |
| 2025 | +247.9% | -3.4% | 5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -9.2% | -11.0% | -6.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | -17.8% | -22.8% | -10.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | -19.6% | -23.4% | -14.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | -13.9% | -18.5% | -10.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | -13.9% | -17.4% | -11.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.2% | -9.9% | -1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.5% | -5.3% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More economy & growth data for Burkina Faso
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.54 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.98 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 57.04 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0025 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 2.42 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -202.22 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -284.78 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0087 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -8.59 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.55 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Burkina Faso?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Burkina Faso was 5.0% 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 Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was -23.4% in 1982.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Burkina Faso ranks 42nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 172.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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.