External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Germany
Germany: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 2.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Germany, 1970–2025
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
In 2025, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Germany stood at 2.4%.
The figure is down 37.6% on the previous year and down 68.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Germany peaked at 7.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, -4.6%, in 1980.
That places Germany 60th 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 Germany, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -1.5% | — |
| 1971 | -1.7% | +18.4% |
| 1972 | -1.6% | -5.6% |
| 1973 | -1.0% | -38.7% |
| 1974 | -0.5% | -51.0% |
| 1975 | -1.7% | +244.8% |
| 1976 | -2.2% | +31.9% |
| 1977 | -2.1% | -3.7% |
| 1978 | -1.9% | -11.0% |
| 1979 | -3.6% | +86.9% |
| 1980 | -4.6% | +28.9% |
| 1981 | -3.9% | -15.1% |
| 1982 | -2.7% | -32.2% |
| 1983 | -3.0% | +12.9% |
| 1984 | -2.8% | -6.7% |
| 1985 | -2.0% | -26.8% |
| 1986 | -0.4% | -81.2% |
| 1987 | -0.3% | -12.3% |
| 1988 | -0.4% | +6.9% |
| 1989 | -0.6% | +74.9% |
| 1990 | -0.2% | -67.0% |
| 1991 | -0.5% | +141.9% |
| 1992 | -0.5% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -101.7% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | +1237.3% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | +208.6% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | +85.1% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | +54.7% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | +13.9% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -53.6% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -69.3% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | +842.4% |
| 2002 | 4.0% | +159.3% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | -10.6% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | +37.1% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | +23.4% |
| 2008 | 5.8% | -9.5% |
| 2009 | 4.8% | -17.5% |
| 2010 | 5.1% | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 4.9% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | +24.4% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +13.2% |
| 2015 | 7.4% | +13.4% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 7.0% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | -15.6% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | -51.7% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | +60.7% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | -4.9% |
| 2025 | 2.4% | -37.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -1.8% | -3.6% | -0.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.1% | -4.6% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | -0.5% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 0.2% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 4.9% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 2.4% | 5.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More economy & growth data for Germany
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.7761 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.6565 Percent per annum (2029)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 4.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 0.4708 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 28,480 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.3985 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 24,108 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 9.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7571 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Germany?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Germany was 2.4% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 2015.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.6% in 1980.
- How does Germany rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Germany ranks 60th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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.