External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in China
China: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 4.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.2%
Change on year
up 42.9%
World rank
47th
of 191 countries
All-time high
8.5%
in 2007
All-time low
-4.0%
in 1985
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in China, 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 China stood at 4.2%.
That represents a change of up 42.9% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in China peaked at 8.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, -4.0%, in 1985.
China ranks 47th 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 China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -0.0% | — |
| 1961 | 0.2% | -1645.1% |
| 1962 | 0.8% | +310.6% |
| 1963 | 0.9% | +12.3% |
| 1964 | 0.8% | -14.7% |
| 1965 | 0.5% | -38.9% |
| 1966 | 0.2% | -48.5% |
| 1967 | 0.3% | +34.1% |
| 1968 | 0.4% | +17.4% |
| 1969 | 0.6% | +59.4% |
| 1970 | 0.1% | -87.1% |
| 1971 | 0.5% | +509.5% |
| 1972 | 0.5% | +14.2% |
| 1973 | 0.5% | -7.3% |
| 1974 | -0.3% | -168.9% |
| 1975 | -0.2% | -33.3% |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -125.3% |
| 1977 | 0.1% | +104.2% |
| 1978 | -1.0% | -911.0% |
| 1979 | -0.9% | -9.7% |
| 1980 | -1.3% | +44.5% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | -186.1% |
| 1982 | 2.3% | +113.7% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | -52.5% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | -98.1% |
| 1985 | -4.0% | -19545.2% |
| 1986 | -2.5% | -39.2% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -104.3% |
| 1988 | -1.3% | -1319.6% |
| 1989 | -1.4% | +9.0% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | -308.6% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | -61.3% |
| 1993 | -2.6% | -326.4% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | -149.1% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +24.8% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | +24.7% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | +119.0% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 2.8% | -34.3% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | -15.3% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -11.9% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +21.1% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -15.2% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +21.2% |
| 2005 | 5.4% | +108.5% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | +39.2% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | +14.2% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | -12.6% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | -43.2% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | -15.3% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | -34.3% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | +13.4% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -9.8% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | -13.9% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | +53.3% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | -29.9% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -22.9% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | -62.4% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +27.6% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | +166.8% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | +32.1% |
| 2023 | 2.1% | -29.8% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | +41.8% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | +42.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.5% | -0.0% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.1% | -1.0% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.6% | -4.0% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | -2.6% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 2.1% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 0.6% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.1% | 4.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 4.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1757 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 2,435 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) -0.3528 % change on previous year (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1671 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 2,221 current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 1.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 1.2 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in China?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in China was 4.2% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.0% in 1985.
- How does China rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- China ranks 47th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.