External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Japan
Japan: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -0.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-0.9%
Change on year
up 39.5%
World rank
86th
of 191 countries
All-time high
3.5%
in 1986
All-time low
-3.6%
in 2022
Years of data
55
1970–2024
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Japan, 1970–2024
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
Japan recorded -0.9% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2024.
That represents a change of up 39.5% on the previous year and up 65.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Japan peaked at 3.5% in 1986 and was at its lowest, -3.6%, in 2022.
That places Japan 86th out of 191 countries with data for 2024, 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.1% | — |
| 1971 | 2.4% | +120.0% |
| 1972 | 2.1% | -15.4% |
| 1973 | -0.1% | -102.5% |
| 1974 | -0.8% | +1445.3% |
| 1975 | -0.1% | -92.7% |
| 1976 | 0.6% | -1199.9% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | +121.7% |
| 1978 | 1.5% | +7.7% |
| 1979 | -0.9% | -160.6% |
| 1980 | -0.9% | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 0.6% | -163.0% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | -10.6% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +179.7% |
| 1984 | 2.3% | +59.6% |
| 1985 | 3.1% | +30.5% |
| 1986 | 3.5% | +15.2% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | -24.6% |
| 1988 | 1.9% | -29.0% |
| 1989 | 1.3% | -31.2% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -42.4% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | +92.7% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | +37.0% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | -11.2% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | -33.2% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | -69.7% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | +160.7% |
| 1998 | 1.7% | +78.5% |
| 1999 | 1.5% | -14.7% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | -8.4% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | -56.5% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | +112.7% |
| 2003 | 1.6% | +27.4% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | +19.1% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -26.5% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -7.5% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | +35.8% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -80.7% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | +32.0% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +198.6% |
| 2011 | -0.6% | -148.5% |
| 2012 | -1.6% | +153.2% |
| 2013 | -2.4% | +46.6% |
| 2014 | -2.5% | +6.9% |
| 2015 | -0.5% | -78.7% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -245.1% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 0.0% | -97.5% |
| 2019 | -0.3% | -1610.8% |
| 2020 | -0.3% | -7.4% |
| 2021 | -0.5% | +91.5% |
| 2022 | -3.6% | +611.0% |
| 2023 | -1.5% | -58.6% |
| 2024 | -0.9% | -39.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.7% | -0.9% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.6% | -0.9% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | 0.4% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.3% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.5% | -2.5% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.3% | -3.6% | -0.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 83 Congo, Democratic Republic of the -0.5% compare
- 84 Mexico -0.6% compare
- 85 Canada -0.8% compare
- 87 Tanzania, United Republic of -1.0% compare
- 88 Bulgaria -1.0% compare
- 89 New Zealand -1.3% compare
More economy & growth data for Japan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.4463 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0491 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,765 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.81 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 142.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0103 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 371.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 11.44 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Japan?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Japan was -0.9% in 2024, 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 1986.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.6% in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Japan ranks 86th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.