External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 2.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Hong Kong, China, 1961–2025
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 Hong Kong, China stood at 2.9%.
The figure is down 25.6% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Hong Kong, China peaked at 12.2% in 2005 and was at its lowest, -8.3%, in 1962.
Hong Kong, China ranks 56th of 191 countries on this measure, 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 Hong Kong, China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -7.6% | — |
| 1962 | -8.3% | +9.5% |
| 1963 | -7.1% | -14.4% |
| 1964 | -7.7% | +7.7% |
| 1965 | -3.4% | -55.1% |
| 1966 | -3.5% | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 4.7% | -231.6% |
| 1968 | 5.4% | +15.7% |
| 1969 | 8.8% | +63.9% |
| 1970 | 7.7% | -12.7% |
| 1971 | 4.2% | -45.5% |
| 1972 | 7.9% | +89.1% |
| 1973 | 6.3% | -20.5% |
| 1974 | 4.8% | -24.1% |
| 1975 | 5.6% | +16.7% |
| 1976 | 10.7% | +91.0% |
| 1977 | 6.5% | -38.8% |
| 1978 | 1.0% | -84.5% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | +27.5% |
| 1980 | -0.5% | -140.0% |
| 1981 | -1.5% | +193.8% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | -137.2% |
| 1983 | 1.8% | +219.9% |
| 1984 | 8.0% | +343.3% |
| 1985 | 10.0% | +25.5% |
| 1986 | 9.1% | -9.3% |
| 1987 | 10.4% | +14.4% |
| 1988 | 8.9% | -14.3% |
| 1989 | 11.5% | +28.4% |
| 1990 | 8.5% | -25.5% |
| 1991 | 6.8% | -20.4% |
| 1992 | 5.2% | -23.5% |
| 1993 | 6.7% | +29.7% |
| 1994 | 1.2% | -82.8% |
| 1995 | -4.5% | -487.2% |
| 1996 | -1.5% | -66.9% |
| 1997 | -3.4% | +126.1% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -116.0% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | +863.4% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | -14.6% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 8.2% | +73.9% |
| 2003 | 9.1% | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 8.7% | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 12.2% | +40.2% |
| 2006 | 11.2% | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 10.7% | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 10.2% | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | -22.6% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | -25.4% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | -34.5% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -70.6% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | -46.9% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -65.8% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | +1065.7% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | -55.8% |
| 2018 | -0.2% | -121.2% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -829.4% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | +23.7% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +188.7% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -26.6% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | -87.4% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | +651.1% |
| 2025 | 2.9% | -25.6% |
Hong Kong, China compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong, China's 2.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 1.3× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong, China's 2.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -9.4%. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Hong Kong, China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +1065.7% | 0.2% | 2.4% |
| 1999 | +863.4% | 0.5% | 5.2% |
| 2019 | +829.4% | -0.2% | 1.6% |
| 2024 | +651.1% | 0.5% | 3.9% |
| 1995 | -487.2% | 1.2% | -4.5% |
| 1984 | +343.3% | 1.8% | 8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -2.1% | -8.3% | 8.8% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.6% | 1.0% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.8% | -1.5% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | -4.5% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.7% | 4.4% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | -0.2% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 0.5% | 5.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong, China
- 53 Faroe Islands 3.4% compare
- 54 Puerto Rico 3.3% compare
- 55 Poland 2.9% compare
- 57 Russian Federation 2.7% compare
- 58 Iraq 2.4% compare
- 59 Austria 2.4% compare
More economy & growth data for Hong Kong, China
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 80.54 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1972 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 10,704 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 125.82 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 3.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.3081 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16,722 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 0.3594 % change on previous year (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 1.12 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 56,469 includes gold, current US$ per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Hong Kong, China?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Hong Kong, China was 2.9% 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 Hong Kong, China?
- The highest recorded value was 12.2% in 2005.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.3% in 1962.
- How does Hong Kong, China rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Hong Kong, China ranks 56th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Hong Kong, China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong, China 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.