External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Nepal
Nepal: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -24.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-24.9%
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
163rd
of 191 countries
All-time high
-0.1%
in 1967
All-time low
-35.6%
in 2022
Years of data
61
1965–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Nepal, 1965–2025
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
Nepal recorded -24.9% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Nepal peaked at -0.1% in 1967 and was at its lowest, -35.6%, in 2022.
Nepal ranks 163rd of 191 countries on this measure, 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | -6.2% | — |
| 1966 | -3.1% | -49.5% |
| 1967 | -0.1% | -97.5% |
| 1968 | -0.7% | +740.7% |
| 1969 | -3.2% | +389.3% |
| 1970 | -3.4% | +6.0% |
| 1971 | -3.7% | +9.6% |
| 1972 | -2.3% | -39.4% |
| 1973 | -3.8% | +66.7% |
| 1974 | -5.1% | +35.5% |
| 1975 | -4.5% | -12.4% |
| 1976 | -3.4% | -23.8% |
| 1977 | -2.5% | -25.7% |
| 1978 | -4.9% | +93.8% |
| 1979 | -4.2% | -14.7% |
| 1980 | -7.2% | +71.9% |
| 1981 | -6.7% | -6.6% |
| 1982 | -7.2% | +7.4% |
| 1983 | -11.1% | +53.6% |
| 1984 | -8.8% | -20.6% |
| 1985 | -8.5% | -3.7% |
| 1986 | -8.6% | +2.0% |
| 1987 | -9.1% | +5.2% |
| 1988 | -10.9% | +20.2% |
| 1989 | -11.2% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | -11.1% | -0.7% |
| 1991 | -11.7% | +5.0% |
| 1992 | -9.8% | -16.4% |
| 1993 | -10.3% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | -12.4% | +20.5% |
| 1995 | -9.5% | -23.3% |
| 1996 | -12.8% | +34.3% |
| 1997 | -11.4% | -11.3% |
| 1998 | -11.1% | -2.8% |
| 1999 | -6.9% | -37.9% |
| 2000 | -9.1% | +33.1% |
| 2001 | -10.7% | +16.8% |
| 2002 | -10.8% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | -12.8% | +19.4% |
| 2004 | -12.8% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | -14.9% | +16.5% |
| 2006 | -17.9% | +20.0% |
| 2007 | -18.9% | +5.6% |
| 2008 | -20.5% | +8.6% |
| 2009 | -22.2% | +8.6% |
| 2010 | -26.8% | +20.6% |
| 2011 | -20.7% | -22.9% |
| 2012 | -20.4% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | -23.3% | +14.0% |
| 2014 | -25.7% | +10.6% |
| 2015 | -26.2% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | -25.8% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | -29.0% | +12.7% |
| 2018 | -32.8% | +13.1% |
| 2019 | -33.7% | +2.7% |
| 2020 | -27.3% | -18.9% |
| 2021 | -32.8% | +20.2% |
| 2022 | -35.6% | +8.4% |
| 2023 | -27.6% | -22.5% |
| 2024 | -25.1% | -9.1% |
| 2025 | -24.9% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -2.6% | -6.2% | -0.1% | 5 |
| 1970s | -3.8% | -5.1% | -2.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | -8.9% | -11.2% | -6.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | -10.7% | -12.8% | -6.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | -15.1% | -22.2% | -9.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -26.4% | -33.7% | -20.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -28.9% | -35.6% | -24.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More economy & growth data for Nepal
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.28 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 6.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 115.47 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 177,353 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.6717 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,032 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 4.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9311 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Nepal?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Nepal was -24.9% 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was -0.1% in 1967.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was -35.6% in 2022.
- How does Nepal rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Nepal ranks 163rd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.