External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -0.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1994–2025
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
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Democratic Republic of Congo is -0.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 82.5% on the previous year and up 91.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 6.1% in 1999 and was at its lowest, -9.3%, in 2009.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 83rd 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 Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2.7% | — |
| 1995 | 4.8% | +74.0% |
| 1996 | -0.3% | -106.5% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -1306.8% |
| 1998 | -3.1% | -182.6% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | -296.6% |
| 2000 | -4.1% | -167.5% |
| 2001 | -1.1% | -74.1% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | -289.9% |
| 2003 | -6.0% | -397.7% |
| 2004 | -3.9% | -35.7% |
| 2005 | -4.7% | +21.4% |
| 2006 | -4.3% | -9.5% |
| 2007 | -1.8% | -57.3% |
| 2008 | -5.0% | +173.5% |
| 2009 | -9.3% | +87.7% |
| 2010 | -7.6% | -18.5% |
| 2011 | -6.0% | -20.7% |
| 2012 | -6.6% | +9.0% |
| 2013 | -4.3% | -34.9% |
| 2014 | -8.2% | +91.9% |
| 2015 | -5.7% | -30.2% |
| 2016 | -5.8% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | -3.8% | -34.9% |
| 2018 | -3.6% | -3.3% |
| 2019 | -4.0% | +9.8% |
| 2020 | -1.3% | -66.4% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | -120.3% |
| 2022 | -4.2% | -1637.5% |
| 2023 | -2.6% | -37.1% |
| 2024 | -2.9% | +8.5% |
| 2025 | -0.5% | -82.5% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -0.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is -11.3%, 4% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -0.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.9%, 7% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 | -1637.5% | 0.3% | -4.2% |
| 1997 | +1306.8% | -0.3% | 3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.3% | -3.1% | 6.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | -3.8% | -9.3% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | -5.6% | -8.2% | -3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.9% | -4.2% | 0.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More economy & growth data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -13.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0076 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 6.17 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -17.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0056 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 4.5 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 0.016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 12.94 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Democratic Republic of Congo was -0.5% 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 6.1% in 1999.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.3% in 2009.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 83rd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 91.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.