External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Congo
Congo: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 4.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.4%
Change on year
down 64.6%
World rank
46th
of 191 countries
All-time high
36.7%
in 2000
All-time low
-65.2%
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Congo, 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 Congo stood at 4.4%.
That represents a change of down 64.6% on the previous year and up 112.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Congo peaked at 36.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, -65.2%, in 1960.
Congo ranks 46th 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 Congo, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -65.2% | — |
| 1961 | -64.2% | -1.5% |
| 1962 | -32.5% | -49.4% |
| 1963 | -21.4% | -34.2% |
| 1964 | -18.3% | -14.4% |
| 1965 | -17.1% | -6.7% |
| 1966 | -21.2% | +24.2% |
| 1967 | -25.3% | +19.4% |
| 1968 | -26.8% | +5.9% |
| 1969 | -24.8% | -7.6% |
| 1970 | -23.0% | -7.2% |
| 1971 | -20.1% | -12.8% |
| 1972 | -23.5% | +17.0% |
| 1973 | -11.8% | -49.9% |
| 1974 | -6.2% | -46.9% |
| 1975 | -27.9% | +346.1% |
| 1976 | -26.2% | -6.0% |
| 1977 | -19.7% | -24.8% |
| 1978 | -17.3% | -11.9% |
| 1979 | -1.2% | -93.0% |
| 1980 | -0.1% | -90.9% |
| 1981 | -18.1% | +16183.5% |
| 1982 | -13.2% | -26.7% |
| 1983 | 6.2% | -146.7% |
| 1984 | 16.0% | +158.9% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | -95.1% |
| 1986 | -13.8% | -1867.2% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | -122.5% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | -93.7% |
| 1989 | 13.7% | +6842.5% |
| 1990 | 32.7% | +139.0% |
| 1991 | 13.6% | -58.5% |
| 1992 | 24.2% | +78.5% |
| 1993 | 11.5% | -52.6% |
| 1994 | -15.7% | -236.6% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | -107.0% |
| 1996 | 8.5% | +675.9% |
| 1997 | 15.4% | +81.4% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | -76.3% |
| 1999 | 13.2% | +260.9% |
| 2000 | 36.7% | +178.2% |
| 2001 | 24.1% | -34.3% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | -82.7% |
| 2004 | 29.7% | +523.4% |
| 2005 | 30.5% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 29.3% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | -11.6% | -139.6% |
| 2008 | 13.7% | -217.9% |
| 2009 | -6.6% | -148.1% |
| 2010 | 13.0% | -297.1% |
| 2011 | 22.6% | +74.2% |
| 2012 | 18.7% | -17.3% |
| 2013 | 12.9% | -31.3% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | -83.9% |
| 2015 | -35.6% | -1820.4% |
| 2016 | -38.1% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -103.4% |
| 2018 | 23.8% | +1722.0% |
| 2019 | 20.8% | -12.7% |
| 2020 | 12.1% | -41.7% |
| 2021 | 20.1% | +65.9% |
| 2022 | 29.5% | +46.4% |
| 2023 | 17.6% | -40.3% |
| 2024 | 12.4% | -29.6% |
| 2025 | 4.4% | -64.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -31.7% | -65.2% | -17.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | -17.7% | -27.9% | -1.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.5% | -18.1% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.8% | -15.7% | 32.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.8% | -11.6% | 36.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | -38.1% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.0% | 4.4% | 29.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More economy & growth data for Congo
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.79 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.01 Percent per annum (2029)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate -9.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 279.46 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 702,761 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.352 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 885.29 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 13.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2908 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Congo?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Congo was 4.4% 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 36.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -65.2% in 1960.
- How does Congo rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Congo ranks 46th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 112.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.