External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lao People's Democratic Republic: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -8.7% in 2016. ▼ Falling
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1984–2016
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
Lao People's Democratic Republic recorded -8.7% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2016.
That represents a change of up 51.5% on the previous year and down 53.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Lao People's Democratic Republic peaked at -3.6% in 1984 and was at its lowest, -22.4%, in 2012.
That places Lao People's Democratic Republic 126th out of 191 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Lao People's Democratic Republic, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | -3.6% | — |
| 1985 | -5.7% | +60.1% |
| 1986 | -4.1% | -28.6% |
| 1987 | -7.9% | +94.0% |
| 1988 | -18.3% | +130.4% |
| 1989 | -19.9% | +8.7% |
| 1990 | -13.2% | -33.6% |
| 1991 | -12.3% | -6.9% |
| 1992 | -10.1% | -17.9% |
| 1993 | -9.7% | -3.7% |
| 1994 | -14.8% | +52.9% |
| 1995 | -14.1% | -4.9% |
| 1996 | -18.4% | +30.1% |
| 1997 | -17.4% | -5.4% |
| 1998 | -11.4% | -34.6% |
| 1999 | -8.3% | -26.9% |
| 2000 | -7.5% | -9.6% |
| 2001 | -10.2% | +35.1% |
| 2002 | -9.7% | -4.0% |
| 2003 | -13.6% | +39.2% |
| 2004 | -16.3% | +19.8% |
| 2005 | -13.9% | -14.7% |
| 2006 | -5.7% | -59.2% |
| 2007 | -12.0% | +112.1% |
| 2008 | -15.5% | +29.7% |
| 2009 | -16.8% | +7.9% |
| 2010 | -14.0% | -16.8% |
| 2011 | -11.0% | -21.1% |
| 2012 | -22.4% | +103.7% |
| 2013 | -21.8% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | -17.6% | -19.6% |
| 2015 | -17.9% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | -8.7% | -51.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -9.9% | -19.9% | -3.6% | 6 |
| 1990s | -13.0% | -18.4% | -8.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -12.1% | -16.8% | -5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | -16.2% | -22.4% | -8.7% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Lao People's Democratic Republic
More economy & growth data for Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.39 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 6,670 BoP, current US$ (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.0009 BoP, current US$ per person (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 988.46 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -44.51 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0599 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 127.22 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 25.05 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Lao People's Democratic Republic was -8.7% in 2016, 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 Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- The highest recorded value was -3.6% in 1984.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was -22.4% in 2012.
- How does Lao People's Democratic Republic rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 126th out of 191 countries with data for 2016.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lao People's Democratic Republic 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.