External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Gabon
Gabon: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 26.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
26.1%
Change on year
down 29.7%
World rank
8th
of 191 countries
All-time high
43.1%
in 2022
All-time low
-19.5%
in 1986
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Gabon, 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
Gabon recorded 26.1% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of down 29.7% on the previous year and up 44.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Gabon peaked at 43.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, -19.5%, in 1986.
Gabon ranks 8th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Gabon, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.5% | — |
| 1961 | -0.5% | -129.2% |
| 1962 | 0.9% | -309.7% |
| 1963 | 1.7% | +80.7% |
| 1964 | 5.9% | +247.5% |
| 1965 | 5.9% | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 0.2% | -97.2% |
| 1967 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1968 | -0.8% | — |
| 1969 | 0.6% | -173.5% |
| 1970 | 11.7% | +1840.4% |
| 1971 | 14.0% | +19.2% |
| 1972 | 0.8% | -94.1% |
| 1973 | 1.2% | +42.2% |
| 1974 | 14.3% | +1111.3% |
| 1975 | 1.6% | -88.6% |
| 1976 | -0.5% | -131.7% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -164.8% |
| 1978 | 14.8% | +4352.3% |
| 1979 | 21.1% | +42.1% |
| 1980 | 33.1% | +57.0% |
| 1981 | 22.7% | -31.5% |
| 1982 | 21.9% | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 17.8% | -18.9% |
| 1984 | 18.9% | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 5.3% | -72.0% |
| 1986 | -19.5% | -468.8% |
| 1987 | -2.5% | -87.1% |
| 1988 | -5.1% | +100.5% |
| 1989 | 4.6% | -190.8% |
| 1990 | 15.2% | +230.2% |
| 1991 | 14.0% | -7.8% |
| 1992 | 12.3% | -12.2% |
| 1993 | 14.2% | +16.0% |
| 1994 | 23.4% | +64.4% |
| 1995 | 23.6% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 29.7% | +25.5% |
| 1997 | 24.1% | -18.8% |
| 1998 | -1.2% | -104.8% |
| 1999 | 21.5% | -1949.6% |
| 2000 | 36.4% | +69.2% |
| 2001 | 24.9% | -31.5% |
| 2002 | 20.5% | -17.9% |
| 2003 | 23.6% | +15.1% |
| 2004 | 28.3% | +20.2% |
| 2005 | 36.1% | +27.4% |
| 2006 | 32.5% | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 31.9% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 35.4% | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 20.8% | -41.1% |
| 2010 | 26.2% | +25.6% |
| 2011 | 33.0% | +26.1% |
| 2012 | 29.6% | -10.4% |
| 2013 | 24.1% | -18.5% |
| 2014 | 15.5% | -35.5% |
| 2015 | 18.1% | +16.7% |
| 2016 | 17.9% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 25.4% | +41.5% |
| 2018 | 31.6% | +24.3% |
| 2019 | 29.4% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 25.1% | -14.8% |
| 2021 | 36.5% | +45.6% |
| 2022 | 43.1% | +18.0% |
| 2023 | 36.0% | -16.5% |
| 2024 | 37.1% | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 26.1% | -29.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.6% | -0.8% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.9% | -0.5% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.7% | -19.5% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.7% | -1.2% | 29.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.0% | 20.5% | 36.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.1% | 15.5% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.0% | 25.1% | 43.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
- 5 Luxembourg 31.2% compare
- 6 San Marino 31.0% compare
- 7 Bermuda 30.1% compare
- 9 Brunei Darussalam 19.5% compare
- 10 Malta 19.2% compare
- 11 Equatorial Guinea 18.1% compare
More economy & growth data for Gabon
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.8121 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate -55.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0306 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 251.59 current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 11.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1116 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 922.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 7.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 64.95 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Gabon?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Gabon was 26.1% 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 Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 43.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was -19.5% in 1986.
- How does Gabon rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Gabon ranks 8th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gabon 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.