External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Kiribati
Kiribati: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -93.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Kiribati, 1972–2024
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
In 2024, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Kiribati stood at -93.1%.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and down 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Kiribati peaked at 56.4% in 1974 and was at its lowest, -106.3%, in 1990.
That places Kiribati 191st out of 191 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Kiribati, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 5.8% | — |
| 1973 | 16.4% | +183.0% |
| 1974 | 56.4% | +242.9% |
| 1975 | 49.2% | -12.7% |
| 1976 | 25.6% | -48.0% |
| 1977 | 21.8% | -15.0% |
| 1978 | 10.8% | -50.6% |
| 1979 | 2.1% | -80.6% |
| 1980 | -2.0% | -196.3% |
| 1981 | -51.4% | +2450.2% |
| 1982 | -48.8% | -5.0% |
| 1983 | -39.0% | -20.1% |
| 1984 | -14.4% | -63.1% |
| 1985 | -20.8% | +44.4% |
| 1986 | -13.1% | -37.0% |
| 1987 | -91.7% | +600.4% |
| 1988 | -70.9% | -22.7% |
| 1989 | -78.7% | +10.9% |
| 1990 | -106.3% | +35.1% |
| 1991 | -84.3% | -20.6% |
| 1992 | -79.4% | -5.9% |
| 1993 | -65.9% | -17.0% |
| 1994 | -51.4% | -22.0% |
| 1995 | -68.4% | +33.0% |
| 1996 | -64.1% | -6.2% |
| 1997 | -60.5% | -5.6% |
| 1998 | -55.0% | -9.1% |
| 1999 | -67.4% | +22.5% |
| 2000 | -72.5% | +7.5% |
| 2001 | -79.6% | +9.9% |
| 2002 | -87.5% | +9.9% |
| 2003 | -71.3% | -18.5% |
| 2004 | -77.1% | +8.2% |
| 2005 | -95.3% | +23.7% |
| 2006 | -73.6% | -22.7% |
| 2007 | -65.3% | -11.4% |
| 2008 | -67.2% | +3.0% |
| 2009 | -69.4% | +3.2% |
| 2010 | -62.6% | -9.8% |
| 2011 | -67.1% | +7.2% |
| 2012 | -70.6% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | -74.9% | +6.0% |
| 2014 | -80.1% | +7.0% |
| 2015 | -82.0% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | -78.0% | -4.8% |
| 2017 | -74.0% | -5.2% |
| 2018 | -65.2% | -11.9% |
| 2019 | -68.4% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | -57.6% | -15.8% |
| 2021 | -66.9% | +16.2% |
| 2022 | -92.1% | +37.6% |
| 2023 | -94.8% | +2.9% |
| 2024 | -93.1% | -1.8% |
Kiribati compared with similar countries
- Kiribati's -93.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -9.2%, 10.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kiribati's -93.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -9.4%, 9.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Kiribati 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | -2450.2% | -2.0% | -51.4% |
| 1987 | -600.4% | -13.1% | -91.7% |
| 1974 | +242.9% | 16.4% | 56.4% |
| 1980 | -196.3% | 2.1% | -2.0% |
| 1973 | +183.0% | 5.8% | 16.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23.5% | 2.1% | 56.4% | 8 |
| 1980s | -43.1% | -91.7% | -2.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | -70.3% | -106.3% | -51.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | -75.9% | -95.3% | -65.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | -72.3% | -82.0% | -62.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | -80.9% | -94.8% | -57.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kiribati
More economy & growth data for Kiribati
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 40.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.6343 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.11 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0577 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 147.57 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.0313 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0421 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 107.75 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Kiribati?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Kiribati was -93.1% 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 Kiribati?
- The highest recorded value was 56.4% in 1974.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Kiribati?
- The lowest recorded value was -106.3% in 1990.
- How does Kiribati rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Kiribati ranks 191st out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Kiribati?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kiribati 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.