External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Guatemala
Guatemala: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -15.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-15.4%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
151st
of 191 countries
All-time high
1.5%
in 1986
All-time low
-17.2%
in 2006
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Guatemala, 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
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Guatemala is -15.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 50.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Guatemala peaked at 1.5% in 1986 and was at its lowest, -17.2%, in 2006.
Guatemala ranks 151st 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -1.9% | — |
| 1961 | -1.5% | -18.7% |
| 1962 | -1.6% | +6.1% |
| 1963 | -1.6% | +0.7% |
| 1964 | -2.7% | +64.0% |
| 1965 | -2.8% | +4.5% |
| 1966 | -0.2% | -93.1% |
| 1967 | -3.3% | +1601.0% |
| 1968 | -1.7% | -49.0% |
| 1969 | 0.4% | -122.2% |
| 1970 | 0.8% | +112.6% |
| 1971 | -1.4% | -277.9% |
| 1972 | 0.4% | -126.3% |
| 1973 | 0.7% | +82.5% |
| 1974 | -3.3% | -581.1% |
| 1975 | -1.8% | -44.4% |
| 1976 | -6.0% | +232.1% |
| 1977 | -1.8% | -70.0% |
| 1978 | -5.8% | +221.3% |
| 1979 | -4.5% | -22.2% |
| 1980 | -2.7% | -39.3% |
| 1981 | -6.5% | +138.3% |
| 1982 | -3.9% | -40.1% |
| 1983 | -1.6% | -60.1% |
| 1984 | -2.1% | +37.9% |
| 1985 | -1.0% | -51.8% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | -240.9% |
| 1987 | -6.4% | -541.5% |
| 1988 | -5.8% | -9.5% |
| 1989 | -5.2% | -11.4% |
| 1990 | -3.8% | -26.2% |
| 1991 | -3.6% | -5.2% |
| 1992 | -9.2% | +155.3% |
| 1993 | -8.4% | -9.3% |
| 1994 | -7.3% | -12.4% |
| 1995 | -6.2% | -15.8% |
| 1996 | -4.8% | -22.7% |
| 1997 | -5.6% | +18.2% |
| 1998 | -8.1% | +43.3% |
| 1999 | -8.4% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | -8.8% | +4.8% |
| 2001 | -13.3% | +52.4% |
| 2002 | -13.7% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | -14.6% | +7.2% |
| 2004 | -15.4% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | -16.2% | +5.3% |
| 2006 | -17.2% | +6.4% |
| 2007 | -17.0% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | -14.9% | -12.4% |
| 2009 | -9.3% | -37.7% |
| 2010 | -10.7% | +14.7% |
| 2011 | -10.9% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | -11.4% | +4.7% |
| 2013 | -12.7% | +11.1% |
| 2014 | -11.6% | -8.6% |
| 2015 | -10.2% | -11.7% |
| 2016 | -8.9% | -13.4% |
| 2017 | -9.1% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | -10.7% | +17.6% |
| 2019 | -10.3% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | -8.5% | -17.9% |
| 2021 | -14.0% | +65.6% |
| 2022 | -16.5% | +18.2% |
| 2023 | -15.1% | -8.8% |
| 2024 | -15.5% | +2.9% |
| 2025 | -15.4% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.7% | -3.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.3% | -6.0% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.4% | -6.5% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | -6.5% | -9.2% | -3.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -14.0% | -17.2% | -8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | -10.6% | -12.7% | -8.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -14.2% | -16.5% | -8.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
- 148 Mauritania -14.3% compare
- 149 Mozambique -14.3% compare
- 150 Samoa -15.4% compare
- 152 Bhutan -16.4% compare
- 153 New Caledonia -17.0% compare
- 154 Malawi -18.1% compare
More economy & growth data for Guatemala
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.43 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.86 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 865.22 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0076 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 47.01 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.85 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 11.98 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0163 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 100.4 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 34.17 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Guatemala?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Guatemala was -15.4% 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 1.5% in 1986.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.2% in 2006.
- How does Guatemala rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Guatemala ranks 151st out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.