External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -6.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Ethiopia, 2011–2025
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 Ethiopia is -6.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 9.0% on the previous year and up 67.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Ethiopia peaked at -6.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, -20.9%, in 2015.
Ethiopia ranks 119th of 191 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | -14.9% | — |
| 2012 | -17.9% | +20.2% |
| 2013 | -16.5% | -7.6% |
| 2014 | -17.5% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | -20.9% | +19.9% |
| 2016 | -19.3% | -7.9% |
| 2017 | -15.8% | -17.8% |
| 2018 | -14.5% | -8.8% |
| 2019 | -12.9% | -10.5% |
| 2020 | -9.8% | -24.6% |
| 2021 | -9.1% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | -10.1% | +11.3% |
| 2023 | -7.4% | -26.7% |
| 2024 | -6.3% | -14.6% |
| 2025 | -6.9% | +9.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | -16.7% | -20.9% | -12.9% | 9 |
| 2020s | -8.3% | -10.1% | -6.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More economy & growth data for Ethiopia
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 0 BoP, current US$ (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0 BoP, current US$ per person (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.02 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 23.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0269 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 30.45 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 86.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0253 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 28.66 includes gold, current US$ per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Ethiopia?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Ethiopia was -6.9% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was -6.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was -20.9% in 2015.
- How does Ethiopia rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Ethiopia ranks 119th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.