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
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% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 4.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -9.2%. (45 countries reporting)
- Congo's 4.4% 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | -16183.5% | -0.1% | -18.1% |
| 1989 | +6842.5% | 0.2% | 13.7% |
| 1986 | -1867.2% | 0.8% | -13.8% |
| 2015 | -1820.4% | 2.1% | -35.6% |
| 2018 | +1722.0% | 1.3% | 23.8% |
| 1996 | +675.9% | 1.1% | 8.5% |
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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 9.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 1.88 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 4.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 1.37 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0119 units 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.