External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Egypt
Egypt: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -11.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-11.7%
Change on year
down 70.8%
World rank
137th
of 191 countries
All-time high
-1.4%
in 2004
All-time low
-17.9%
in 1988
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Egypt, 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
Egypt recorded -11.7% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 70.8% on the previous year and down 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Egypt peaked at -1.4% in 2004 and was at its lowest, -17.9%, in 1988.
That places Egypt 137th 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 Egypt, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -2.0% | — |
| 1961 | -2.1% | +7.0% |
| 1962 | -4.5% | +113.1% |
| 1963 | -5.8% | +30.5% |
| 1964 | -6.5% | +11.1% |
| 1965 | -3.0% | -53.7% |
| 1966 | -4.2% | +38.3% |
| 1967 | -2.3% | -44.9% |
| 1968 | -5.7% | +147.5% |
| 1969 | -3.1% | -45.6% |
| 1970 | -3.5% | +14.5% |
| 1971 | -4.5% | +28.8% |
| 1972 | -4.7% | +2.7% |
| 1973 | -4.6% | -0.8% |
| 1974 | -10.9% | +136.3% |
| 1975 | -17.4% | +59.0% |
| 1976 | -10.8% | -38.1% |
| 1977 | -9.8% | -9.0% |
| 1978 | -14.0% | +43.5% |
| 1979 | -16.5% | +17.4% |
| 1980 | -12.4% | -25.0% |
| 1981 | -12.5% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | -11.5% | -8.0% |
| 1983 | -11.3% | -2.2% |
| 1984 | -11.4% | +1.0% |
| 1985 | -9.7% | -15.3% |
| 1986 | -8.4% | -13.1% |
| 1987 | -10.1% | +20.3% |
| 1988 | -17.9% | +76.9% |
| 1989 | -14.5% | -18.5% |
| 1990 | -12.2% | -16.0% |
| 1991 | -7.9% | -35.2% |
| 1992 | -2.5% | -68.2% |
| 1993 | -4.3% | +69.0% |
| 1994 | -5.5% | +29.0% |
| 1995 | -5.1% | -6.2% |
| 1996 | -5.4% | +5.9% |
| 1997 | -6.1% | +11.1% |
| 1998 | -9.5% | +56.9% |
| 1999 | -8.3% | -13.1% |
| 2000 | -6.6% | -19.9% |
| 2001 | -4.9% | -26.7% |
| 2002 | -4.4% | -10.2% |
| 2003 | -2.6% | -40.6% |
| 2004 | -1.4% | -47.4% |
| 2005 | -2.3% | +66.6% |
| 2006 | -1.6% | -28.5% |
| 2007 | -4.6% | +182.8% |
| 2008 | -5.6% | +22.2% |
| 2009 | -6.6% | +18.7% |
| 2010 | -5.2% | -21.1% |
| 2011 | -4.1% | -21.3% |
| 2012 | -7.9% | +92.1% |
| 2013 | -6.3% | -20.0% |
| 2014 | -8.4% | +33.1% |
| 2015 | -8.5% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | -9.6% | +12.7% |
| 2017 | -12.8% | +34.0% |
| 2018 | -9.9% | -22.4% |
| 2019 | -7.8% | -21.2% |
| 2020 | -7.2% | -8.4% |
| 2021 | -8.7% | +21.6% |
| 2022 | -6.8% | -22.0% |
| 2023 | -2.2% | -67.1% |
| 2024 | -6.8% | +206.0% |
| 2025 | -11.7% | +70.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -3.9% | -6.5% | -2.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | -9.7% | -17.4% | -3.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | -12.0% | -17.9% | -8.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -6.7% | -12.2% | -2.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | -4.0% | -6.6% | -1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | -8.1% | -12.8% | -4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | -7.3% | -11.7% | -2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
- 134 Eritrea -11.1% compare
- 135 Cape Verde -11.4% compare
- 136 Madagascar -11.6% compare
- 138 Haiti -12.8% compare
- 139 Seychelles -13.0% compare
- 140 Bosnia and Herzegovina -13.1% compare
More economy & growth data for Egypt
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.11 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 695.90 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0019 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.88 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.45 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -66.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0423 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 130.55 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.8 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Egypt?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Egypt was -11.7% 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was -1.4% in 2004.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.9% in 1988.
- How does Egypt rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Egypt ranks 137th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Egypt 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.