External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -13.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in North Macedonia, 1990–2025
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
North Macedonia recorded -13.7% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
The figure is down 6.0% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in North Macedonia peaked at 0.9% in 1992 and was at its lowest, -30.1%, in 1998.
That places North Macedonia 146th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -9.6% | — |
| 1991 | -2.8% | -70.4% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | -133.4% |
| 1993 | -7.6% | -900.2% |
| 1994 | -9.7% | +28.6% |
| 1995 | -9.3% | -4.5% |
| 1996 | -15.3% | +65.1% |
| 1997 | -24.9% | +62.3% |
| 1998 | -30.1% | +20.9% |
| 1999 | -26.5% | -11.7% |
| 2000 | -14.3% | -46.2% |
| 2001 | -13.1% | -8.3% |
| 2002 | -18.9% | +44.7% |
| 2003 | -15.8% | -16.8% |
| 2004 | -19.5% | +23.5% |
| 2005 | -16.2% | -16.6% |
| 2006 | -17.0% | +4.6% |
| 2007 | -17.9% | +5.3% |
| 2008 | -25.1% | +40.7% |
| 2009 | -21.6% | -14.2% |
| 2010 | -18.3% | -15.1% |
| 2011 | -18.9% | +3.5% |
| 2012 | -21.5% | +13.3% |
| 2013 | -18.1% | -15.8% |
| 2014 | -17.2% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | -16.2% | -5.8% |
| 2016 | -14.9% | -8.4% |
| 2017 | -13.8% | -6.8% |
| 2018 | -12.5% | -10.0% |
| 2019 | -13.8% | +10.4% |
| 2020 | -12.7% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | -15.8% | +24.7% |
| 2022 | -20.6% | +30.0% |
| 2023 | -13.0% | -36.8% |
| 2024 | -13.0% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | -13.7% | +6.0% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's -13.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -4.0%, 3.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's -13.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8%. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in North Macedonia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | -900.2% | 0.9% | -7.6% |
| 1992 | +133.4% | -2.8% | 0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -13.5% | -30.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | -17.9% | -25.1% | -13.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -16.5% | -21.5% | -12.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -14.8% | -20.6% | -12.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
- 143 Uzbekistan -13.3% compare
- 144 Rwanda -13.6% compare
- 145 Philippines -13.7% compare
- 147 Central African Republic -14.2% compare
- 148 Mauritania -14.3% compare
- 149 Mozambique -14.3% compare
More economy & growth data for North Macedonia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 400.07 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0209 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 219.71 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 675.78 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -36.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0354 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 371.12 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 10.51 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in North Macedonia?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in North Macedonia was -13.7% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9% in 1992.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was -30.1% in 1998.
- How does North Macedonia rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- North Macedonia ranks 146th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.