External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Gambia
Gambia: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -36.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Gambia, 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
Gambia recorded -36.7% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 60 years on record.
The figure is down 48.8% on the previous year and down 174.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Gambia peaked at 1.1% in 1975 and was at its lowest, -36.7%, in 2025.
Gambia ranks 175th of 191 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | -7.4% | — |
| 1967 | -6.7% | -10.0% |
| 1968 | -11.0% | +65.0% |
| 1969 | -10.7% | -2.8% |
| 1970 | -3.1% | -70.9% |
| 1971 | -4.8% | +54.4% |
| 1972 | -7.0% | +45.0% |
| 1973 | -7.3% | +4.2% |
| 1974 | -4.7% | -34.8% |
| 1975 | 1.1% | -123.1% |
| 1976 | -5.3% | -584.3% |
| 1977 | -10.8% | +103.5% |
| 1978 | -26.2% | +143.1% |
| 1979 | -28.3% | +8.0% |
| 1980 | -20.9% | -26.3% |
| 1981 | -22.8% | +9.3% |
| 1982 | -15.3% | -32.9% |
| 1983 | -12.0% | -21.6% |
| 1984 | -13.7% | +13.9% |
| 1985 | -10.1% | -26.4% |
| 1986 | -9.5% | -5.7% |
| 1987 | -9.9% | +4.2% |
| 1988 | -8.1% | -18.0% |
| 1989 | -10.2% | +26.3% |
| 1990 | -11.7% | +14.3% |
| 1991 | -5.2% | -55.3% |
| 1992 | -6.3% | +19.8% |
| 1993 | -8.2% | +31.8% |
| 1994 | -7.4% | -9.8% |
| 1995 | -11.7% | +57.7% |
| 1996 | -7.4% | -37.3% |
| 1997 | -2.5% | -66.7% |
| 1998 | -3.3% | +32.9% |
| 1999 | -3.6% | +11.0% |
| 2000 | -4.8% | +31.6% |
| 2001 | -3.3% | -31.0% |
| 2002 | -5.3% | +62.1% |
| 2003 | -6.7% | +25.2% |
| 2004 | -8.7% | +31.1% |
| 2005 | -10.2% | +16.8% |
| 2006 | -8.3% | -18.7% |
| 2007 | -8.2% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | -10.1% | +23.2% |
| 2009 | -10.3% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | -11.7% | +13.5% |
| 2011 | -8.9% | -23.6% |
| 2012 | -8.0% | -10.1% |
| 2013 | -7.5% | -6.4% |
| 2014 | -14.6% | +94.4% |
| 2015 | -13.4% | -8.3% |
| 2016 | -12.6% | -5.8% |
| 2017 | -18.8% | +49.0% |
| 2018 | -20.2% | +7.8% |
| 2019 | -15.7% | -22.6% |
| 2020 | -28.2% | +79.9% |
| 2021 | -28.9% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | -27.6% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | -25.9% | -6.3% |
| 2024 | -24.7% | -4.6% |
| 2025 | -36.7% | +48.8% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's -36.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is -11.3%, 3.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Gambia's -36.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.9%, 5.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Gambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | -584.3% | 1.1% | -5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -8.9% | -11.0% | -6.7% | 4 |
| 1970s | -9.6% | -28.3% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | -13.2% | -22.8% | -8.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -6.7% | -11.7% | -2.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | -7.6% | -10.3% | -3.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | -13.1% | -20.2% | -7.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -28.6% | -36.7% | -24.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 172 Palestine, State of -32.3% compare
- 173 Lebanon -35.6% compare
- 174 Tajikistan -36.7% compare
- 176 Jordan -37.5% compare
- 177 Yemen -38.6% compare
- 178 Kyrgyzstan -38.8% compare
More economy & growth data for Gambia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.69 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.02 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -665,150 BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -0.241 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 232.36 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 13.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0966 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 84.19 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.98 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Gambia?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Gambia was -36.7% 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.1% in 1975.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -36.7% in 2025.
- How does Gambia rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Gambia ranks 175th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 174.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia 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.