External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Denmark
Denmark: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 11.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Denmark, 1966–2025
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
Denmark recorded 11.0% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025. That is the highest value across all 60 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 69.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Denmark peaked at 11.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, -4.5%, in 1976.
That places Denmark 23rd out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Denmark, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | -1.6% | — |
| 1967 | -2.1% | +31.7% |
| 1968 | -1.4% | -33.2% |
| 1969 | -2.1% | +49.9% |
| 1970 | -2.8% | +36.5% |
| 1971 | -2.0% | -28.5% |
| 1972 | -0.4% | -79.8% |
| 1973 | -1.9% | +363.8% |
| 1974 | -3.4% | +76.9% |
| 1975 | -1.0% | -71.3% |
| 1976 | -4.5% | +372.3% |
| 1977 | -3.6% | -21.3% |
| 1978 | -2.2% | -37.9% |
| 1979 | -2.4% | +7.3% |
| 1980 | -0.5% | -81.0% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | -413.2% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | -35.5% |
| 1983 | 2.2% | +143.1% |
| 1984 | 1.7% | -24.2% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | -53.8% |
| 1986 | -0.2% | -125.7% |
| 1987 | 2.1% | -1130.7% |
| 1988 | 3.5% | +68.8% |
| 1989 | 3.8% | +9.3% |
| 1990 | 5.6% | +46.3% |
| 1991 | 6.2% | +11.9% |
| 1992 | 6.9% | +11.0% |
| 1993 | 7.5% | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 5.9% | -21.3% |
| 1995 | 4.7% | -20.5% |
| 1996 | 5.7% | +20.3% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | -23.0% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | -29.5% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | +95.1% |
| 2000 | 6.7% | +11.9% |
| 2001 | 7.1% | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 6.8% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 5.6% | -16.9% |
| 2005 | 5.4% | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | -26.4% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | -30.3% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | +26.4% |
| 2009 | 4.6% | +32.6% |
| 2010 | 6.8% | +47.6% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 6.2% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 6.0% | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 6.5% | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | -20.4% |
| 2019 | 6.0% | +16.6% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | +8.0% |
| 2022 | 9.5% | +56.2% |
| 2023 | 9.0% | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 10.2% | +13.7% |
| 2025 | 11.0% | +7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.8% | -2.1% | -1.4% | 4 |
| 1970s | -2.4% | -4.5% | -0.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.6% | -0.5% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.6% | 3.1% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 2.7% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 5.2% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.6% | 5.6% | 11.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More economy & growth data for Denmark
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.9574 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 40,939 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 8.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8899 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita 68,494 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.89 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per capita 453,557 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0.6377 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Denmark?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Denmark was 11.0% 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 11.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.5% in 1976.
- How does Denmark rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Denmark ranks 23rd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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.
Download this data
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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.