External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Malta
Malta: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 19.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Malta, 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
Malta recorded 19.2% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 87.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Malta peaked at 20.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, -27.2%, in 1970.
That places Malta 10th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Malta, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -27.2% | — |
| 1971 | -23.4% | -13.8% |
| 1972 | -20.9% | -10.7% |
| 1973 | -18.0% | -13.9% |
| 1974 | -26.4% | +46.8% |
| 1975 | -12.6% | -52.2% |
| 1976 | -11.1% | -12.4% |
| 1977 | -13.5% | +21.9% |
| 1978 | -7.0% | -48.3% |
| 1979 | -5.2% | -25.1% |
| 1980 | -5.5% | +4.6% |
| 1981 | -8.0% | +46.8% |
| 1982 | -15.0% | +86.2% |
| 1983 | -13.9% | -7.4% |
| 1984 | -14.1% | +1.5% |
| 1985 | -14.7% | +4.2% |
| 1986 | -9.5% | -35.2% |
| 1987 | -8.9% | -6.3% |
| 1988 | -9.5% | +7.0% |
| 1989 | -10.3% | +8.7% |
| 1990 | -12.8% | +24.0% |
| 1991 | -10.5% | -18.1% |
| 1992 | -6.9% | -33.8% |
| 1993 | -9.3% | +33.6% |
| 1994 | -9.8% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | -6.4% | -34.3% |
| 1996 | -9.9% | +53.7% |
| 1997 | -6.1% | -38.2% |
| 1998 | -6.4% | +5.4% |
| 1999 | -4.6% | -28.1% |
| 2000 | -9.1% | +96.1% |
| 2001 | -4.4% | -51.4% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -157.0% |
| 2003 | -3.7% | -245.8% |
| 2004 | -5.7% | +55.5% |
| 2005 | -9.1% | +59.8% |
| 2006 | -4.1% | -55.2% |
| 2007 | -3.1% | -23.3% |
| 2008 | -2.8% | -10.2% |
| 2009 | -1.5% | -46.8% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -168.1% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | +181.2% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -16.5% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | +231.6% |
| 2014 | 12.6% | +58.8% |
| 2015 | 10.3% | -18.2% |
| 2016 | 13.0% | +26.3% |
| 2017 | 20.2% | +55.7% |
| 2018 | 18.6% | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 16.0% | -14.1% |
| 2020 | 17.5% | +9.9% |
| 2021 | 17.5% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 12.0% | -31.3% |
| 2023 | 18.4% | +52.8% |
| 2024 | 19.2% | +4.7% |
| 2025 | 19.2% | -0.1% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 19.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 8.6× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Malta's 19.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -5.3%. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Malta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | -245.8% | 2.5% | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -16.5% | -27.2% | -5.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | -10.9% | -15.0% | -5.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | -8.3% | -12.8% | -4.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -4.1% | -9.1% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.5% | 1.0% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.3% | 12.0% | 19.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More economy & growth data for Malta
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.35 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.51 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0128 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 611.63 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.5772 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0093 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 446.61 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0062 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Malta?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Malta was 19.2% 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 2017.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was -27.2% in 1970.
- How does Malta rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Malta ranks 10th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 87.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta 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.