External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Ireland
Ireland: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 40.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
40.2%
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
2nd
of 191 countries
All-time high
41.8%
in 2024
All-time low
-16.3%
in 1979
Years of data
56
1970–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Ireland, 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 Ireland stood at 40.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.9% on the previous year and up 35.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Ireland peaked at 41.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, -16.3%, in 1979.
Ireland ranks 2nd 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -8.2% | — |
| 1971 | -7.6% | -8.3% |
| 1972 | -5.8% | -23.8% |
| 1973 | -7.2% | +25.0% |
| 1974 | -14.5% | +100.9% |
| 1975 | -6.6% | -54.3% |
| 1976 | -8.4% | +27.5% |
| 1977 | -9.6% | +13.6% |
| 1978 | -10.3% | +7.8% |
| 1979 | -16.3% | +57.9% |
| 1980 | -13.6% | -16.6% |
| 1981 | -14.2% | +4.8% |
| 1982 | -7.9% | -44.5% |
| 1983 | -3.8% | -51.5% |
| 1984 | -1.7% | -56.0% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | -118.7% |
| 1986 | 1.1% | +241.3% |
| 1987 | 4.1% | +285.5% |
| 1988 | 6.0% | +44.3% |
| 1989 | 5.4% | -9.6% |
| 1990 | 4.4% | -18.7% |
| 1991 | 4.7% | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 7.3% | +53.8% |
| 1993 | 10.1% | +39.4% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 10.9% | +16.0% |
| 1996 | 10.9% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 12.0% | +9.4% |
| 1998 | 10.9% | -9.2% |
| 1999 | 13.0% | +20.0% |
| 2000 | 13.8% | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 15.6% | +12.9% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 15.1% | -11.8% |
| 2004 | 14.4% | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 10.9% | -24.3% |
| 2006 | 8.0% | -26.0% |
| 2007 | 8.3% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 13.5% | +56.7% |
| 2010 | 16.6% | +22.6% |
| 2011 | 18.5% | +11.7% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 19.8% | +14.2% |
| 2014 | 19.0% | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 29.7% | +56.1% |
| 2016 | 18.6% | -37.2% |
| 2017 | 23.7% | +27.0% |
| 2018 | 29.5% | +24.5% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | -83.7% |
| 2020 | 20.8% | +334.6% |
| 2021 | 41.8% | +100.4% |
| 2022 | 41.3% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 33.4% | -19.0% |
| 2024 | 41.8% | +25.1% |
| 2025 | 40.2% | -3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -9.4% | -16.3% | -5.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.4% | -14.2% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.4% | 4.4% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.5% | 8.0% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.7% | 4.8% | 29.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.5% | 20.8% | 41.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 1 Macau, China 45.4% compare
- 3 Qatar 37.0% compare
- 4 Singapore 35.4% compare
- 5 Luxembourg 31.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 67.14 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1102 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 12,444 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 103.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0079 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 893.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 7.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Ireland?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Ireland was 40.2% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 41.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.3% in 1979.
- How does Ireland rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Ireland ranks 2nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.