External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Italy
Italy: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 1.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Italy, 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
Italy recorded 1.9% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of down 7.1% on the previous year and down 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Italy peaked at 4.5% in 1996 and was at its lowest, -3.7%, in 1974.
Italy ranks 64th 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.2% | — |
| 1971 | 0.8% | +234.8% |
| 1972 | 0.8% | +5.3% |
| 1973 | -1.8% | -330.5% |
| 1974 | -3.7% | +102.6% |
| 1975 | 0.1% | -101.7% |
| 1976 | -1.1% | -1821.3% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | -186.1% |
| 1978 | 2.1% | +120.0% |
| 1979 | 1.1% | -49.3% |
| 1980 | -2.6% | -345.3% |
| 1981 | -1.9% | -25.0% |
| 1982 | -1.3% | -35.0% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | -137.5% |
| 1984 | -0.4% | -189.6% |
| 1985 | -0.4% | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | -402.1% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | -67.4% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -88.9% |
| 1989 | -0.0% | -143.3% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -1113.4% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | -76.9% |
| 1993 | 3.0% | +6703.4% |
| 1994 | 3.3% | +8.2% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | +11.4% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +23.8% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | -18.1% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | -18.2% |
| 1999 | 1.8% | -41.3% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -52.3% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | +48.5% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | -40.1% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | -39.8% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | +29.4% |
| 2005 | -0.1% | -116.8% |
| 2006 | -0.8% | +730.1% |
| 2007 | -0.3% | -58.7% |
| 2008 | -0.7% | +115.6% |
| 2009 | -0.6% | -19.4% |
| 2010 | -1.8% | +210.8% |
| 2011 | -1.3% | -26.2% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -180.7% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | +113.7% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +20.2% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | -14.8% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +36.3% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | -41.9% |
| 2022 | -1.8% | -189.1% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | -185.6% |
| 2024 | 2.1% | +33.5% |
| 2025 | 1.9% | -7.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -0.1% | -3.7% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.4% | -2.6% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 0.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | -0.8% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | -1.8% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | -1.8% | 3.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More economy & growth data for Italy
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.18 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.8337 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 22.90 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.009 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 388.75 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 882.91 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -96.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 49.38 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Italy?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Italy was 1.9% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 1996.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.7% in 1974.
- How does Italy rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Italy ranks 64th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.