External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Nauru
Nauru: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -41.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Nauru, 2008–2025
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
Nauru recorded -41.9% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of up 21.7% on the previous year and up 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Nauru peaked at 22.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, -57.8%, in 2021.
That places Nauru 181st 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 Nauru, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 16.7% | — |
| 2009 | 21.7% | +30.0% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | -82.9% |
| 2011 | -6.1% | -263.6% |
| 2012 | 16.3% | -369.4% |
| 2013 | 22.8% | +39.8% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | -95.9% |
| 2015 | -56.9% | -6241.2% |
| 2016 | -25.4% | -55.4% |
| 2017 | -22.1% | -13.0% |
| 2018 | -31.2% | +41.5% |
| 2019 | -35.1% | +12.5% |
| 2020 | -47.8% | +36.2% |
| 2021 | -57.8% | +20.8% |
| 2022 | -50.4% | -12.8% |
| 2023 | -53.3% | +5.9% |
| 2024 | -53.5% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | -41.9% | -21.7% |
Nauru compared with similar countries
- Nauru's -41.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%. (72 countries reporting)
- Nauru's -41.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -9.4%, 4.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Nauru 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | -6241.2% | 0.9% | -56.9% |
| 2012 | +369.4% | -6.1% | 16.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.2% | 16.7% | 21.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | -13.3% | -56.9% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -50.8% | -57.8% | -41.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nauru
- 178 Kyrgyzstan -38.8% compare
- 179 Cuba -39.9% compare
- 180 Palau -40.4% compare
- 182 Tonga -43.8% compare
- 183 Marshall Islands -43.8% compare
- 184 Northern Mariana Islands -48.6% compare
More economy & growth data for Nauru
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 263.62 % change on previous year (2021)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.2806 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.827 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0222 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 325.69 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.0409 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0162 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 237.81 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 Nauru?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Nauru was -41.9% 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 Nauru?
- The highest recorded value was 22.8% in 2013.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Nauru?
- The lowest recorded value was -57.8% in 2021.
- How does Nauru rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Nauru ranks 181st out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Nauru?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nauru 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.