External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Norway
Norway: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 11.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Norway, 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
In 2025, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Norway stood at 11.7%.
The figure is down 11.3% on the previous year and up 73.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Norway peaked at 27.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, -9.3%, in 1977.
That places Norway 20th 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 Norway, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -0.7% | — |
| 1971 | -2.7% | +266.4% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | -124.1% |
| 1973 | -0.5% | -182.1% |
| 1974 | -2.9% | +441.8% |
| 1975 | -6.0% | +108.3% |
| 1976 | -8.5% | +43.0% |
| 1977 | -9.3% | +8.6% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | -100.4% |
| 1979 | 2.0% | +5512.1% |
| 1980 | 5.7% | +182.7% |
| 1981 | 6.9% | +21.6% |
| 1982 | 4.8% | -30.6% |
| 1983 | 7.5% | +56.9% |
| 1984 | 8.5% | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | -18.4% |
| 1986 | -3.7% | -154.0% |
| 1987 | -2.6% | -30.7% |
| 1988 | -1.0% | -60.9% |
| 1989 | 3.1% | -402.3% |
| 1990 | 5.9% | +92.7% |
| 1991 | 7.5% | +26.4% |
| 1992 | 6.4% | -14.6% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | -5.1% |
| 1994 | 5.7% | -5.4% |
| 1995 | 5.8% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 8.6% | +47.5% |
| 1997 | 7.9% | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 1.8% | -77.3% |
| 1999 | 7.2% | +302.9% |
| 2000 | 16.9% | +134.4% |
| 2001 | 16.8% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 13.3% | -20.5% |
| 2003 | 12.9% | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 13.4% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 16.2% | +21.2% |
| 2006 | 17.2% | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 13.8% | -19.5% |
| 2008 | 17.5% | +26.4% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | -30.7% |
| 2010 | 12.0% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 13.7% | +13.8% |
| 2012 | 14.0% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 11.6% | -16.5% |
| 2014 | 10.2% | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | -34.3% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | -58.0% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | +54.5% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +47.3% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | -61.0% |
| 2020 | -0.7% | -126.9% |
| 2021 | 14.5% | -2243.9% |
| 2022 | 27.2% | +88.3% |
| 2023 | 15.4% | -43.4% |
| 2024 | 13.2% | -14.5% |
| 2025 | 11.7% | -11.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -2.8% | -9.3% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.6% | -3.7% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.3% | 1.8% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 12.1% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 2.5% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.6% | -0.7% | 27.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More economy & growth data for Norway
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.7416 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 5.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1611 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 15,237 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 8.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.2257 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 21,349 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 4.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 2.35 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Norway?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Norway was 11.7% 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.3% in 1977.
- How does Norway rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Norway ranks 20th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 73.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Norway 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.