External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Namibia
Namibia: 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 Namibia, 1980–2025
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 Namibia stood at -19.2%.
That represents a change of up 25.7% on the previous year and up 27.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Namibia peaked at 14.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, -26.5%, in 2015.
That places Namibia 155th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, 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 Namibia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 14.1% | — |
| 1981 | -11.4% | -180.8% |
| 1982 | -8.6% | -24.8% |
| 1983 | -7.6% | -11.2% |
| 1984 | -6.2% | -18.8% |
| 1985 | 11.5% | -286.2% |
| 1986 | 10.3% | -10.2% |
| 1987 | -4.9% | -147.5% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | -130.6% |
| 1989 | 3.4% | +123.5% |
| 1990 | -6.6% | -297.6% |
| 1991 | -5.9% | -11.6% |
| 1992 | -5.9% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | -2.9% | -51.4% |
| 1994 | -1.3% | -55.6% |
| 1995 | -4.2% | +226.2% |
| 1996 | -5.7% | +37.1% |
| 1997 | -7.5% | +31.6% |
| 1998 | -9.4% | +24.4% |
| 1999 | -8.2% | -12.3% |
| 2000 | -3.7% | -55.6% |
| 2001 | -6.5% | +76.8% |
| 2002 | -2.1% | -67.9% |
| 2003 | -9.1% | +337.7% |
| 2004 | -2.3% | -75.1% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -106.0% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | +2751.2% |
| 2007 | -5.3% | -235.1% |
| 2008 | -12.3% | +134.2% |
| 2009 | -20.6% | +67.3% |
| 2010 | -11.5% | -44.2% |
| 2011 | -11.1% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | -20.1% | +80.9% |
| 2013 | -22.7% | +13.1% |
| 2014 | -25.0% | +10.2% |
| 2015 | -26.5% | +5.8% |
| 2016 | -23.9% | -9.6% |
| 2017 | -14.0% | -41.6% |
| 2018 | -9.9% | -28.8% |
| 2019 | -10.1% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | -9.6% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | -19.6% | +105.1% |
| 2022 | -18.3% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | -23.2% | +26.7% |
| 2024 | -25.9% | +11.3% |
| 2025 | -19.2% | -25.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.2% | -11.4% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -5.8% | -9.4% | -1.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -5.8% | -20.6% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | -17.5% | -26.5% | -9.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -19.3% | -25.9% | -9.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More economy & growth data for Namibia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.64 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate -20.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1868 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 910.6 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate -22.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 3.34 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 16,290 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -25.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1678 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Namibia?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Namibia 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was -26.5% in 2015.
- How does Namibia rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Namibia ranks 155th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.