External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Malaysia
Malaysia: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 5.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5.5%
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
36th
of 191 countries
All-time high
25.1%
in 1999
All-time low
-8.7%
in 1982
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Malaysia, 1960–2025
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 Malaysia stood at 5.5%.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and down 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Malaysia peaked at 25.1% in 1999 and was at its lowest, -8.7%, in 1982.
Malaysia ranks 36th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13.8% | — |
| 1961 | 6.9% | -50.1% |
| 1962 | 2.9% | -57.8% |
| 1963 | 1.7% | -40.4% |
| 1964 | 1.7% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 4.5% | +158.0% |
| 1966 | 3.9% | -11.8% |
| 1967 | 2.4% | -38.3% |
| 1968 | 3.5% | +44.4% |
| 1969 | 10.2% | +189.6% |
| 1970 | 4.2% | -58.5% |
| 1971 | 1.4% | -66.1% |
| 1972 | -1.4% | -194.0% |
| 1973 | 5.6% | -517.3% |
| 1974 | 0.2% | -95.8% |
| 1975 | 0.5% | +91.4% |
| 1976 | 10.4% | +2209.9% |
| 1977 | 7.5% | -28.1% |
| 1978 | 5.6% | -25.9% |
| 1979 | 8.9% | +59.5% |
| 1980 | 2.5% | -71.8% |
| 1981 | -6.2% | -347.1% |
| 1982 | -8.7% | +40.9% |
| 1983 | -5.0% | -43.1% |
| 1984 | 1.9% | -138.5% |
| 1985 | 5.1% | +169.0% |
| 1986 | 6.1% | +18.8% |
| 1987 | 13.9% | +127.5% |
| 1988 | 10.2% | -26.4% |
| 1989 | 6.1% | -40.6% |
| 1990 | 2.0% | -66.3% |
| 1991 | -3.7% | -279.1% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | -137.1% |
| 1993 | -0.1% | -107.4% |
| 1994 | -1.6% | +1505.2% |
| 1995 | -3.9% | +145.4% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -135.2% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -34.0% |
| 1998 | 22.0% | +2307.0% |
| 1999 | 25.1% | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | -23.3% |
| 2001 | 17.4% | -9.2% |
| 2002 | 17.3% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 19.7% | +14.1% |
| 2004 | 20.4% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 21.9% | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 21.8% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | -8.8% |
| 2008 | 22.3% | +12.4% |
| 2009 | 20.3% | -9.2% |
| 2010 | 15.9% | -21.5% |
| 2011 | 15.6% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 10.8% | -30.9% |
| 2013 | 8.5% | -20.6% |
| 2014 | 9.3% | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | -18.8% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | -11.6% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 6.7% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 7.5% | +12.2% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | -15.4% |
| 2021 | 7.2% | +13.5% |
| 2022 | 7.2% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 4.8% | -33.7% |
| 2024 | 5.3% | +11.7% |
| 2025 | 5.5% | +4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.2% | 1.7% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.3% | -1.4% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.6% | -8.7% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.3% | -3.9% | 25.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.0% | 17.3% | 22.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 6.7% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.1% | 4.8% | 7.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More economy & growth data for Malaysia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 13.04 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0309 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 366.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.59 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 96.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0369 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 438.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Malaysia?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Malaysia was 5.5% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.1% in 1999.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.7% in 1982.
- How does Malaysia rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Malaysia ranks 36th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.