External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -30.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Solomon Islands, 1980–2024
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
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Solomon Islands is -30.2%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.6% on the previous year and down 244.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Solomon Islands peaked at 3.8% in 1999 and was at its lowest, -69.4%, in 1989.
Solomon Islands ranks 170th 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 Solomon Islands, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -47.5% | — |
| 1981 | -47.5% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -47.5% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | -47.6% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | -39.3% | -17.3% |
| 1985 | -47.3% | +20.3% |
| 1986 | -40.5% | -14.5% |
| 1987 | -43.4% | +7.4% |
| 1988 | -68.0% | +56.6% |
| 1989 | -69.4% | +2.0% |
| 1990 | -49.7% | -28.4% |
| 1991 | -62.7% | +26.1% |
| 1992 | -42.7% | -31.9% |
| 1993 | -43.6% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | -37.6% | -13.9% |
| 1995 | -24.1% | -35.7% |
| 1996 | -8.5% | -64.7% |
| 1997 | -10.3% | +20.7% |
| 1998 | -2.1% | -79.7% |
| 1999 | 3.8% | -280.6% |
| 2000 | -4.4% | -215.5% |
| 2001 | -10.0% | +130.7% |
| 2002 | -2.1% | -79.1% |
| 2003 | -12.0% | +470.6% |
| 2004 | -13.1% | +9.1% |
| 2005 | -12.0% | -8.2% |
| 2006 | -15.7% | +30.8% |
| 2007 | -19.5% | +24.2% |
| 2008 | -17.9% | -8.0% |
| 2009 | -13.6% | -24.1% |
| 2010 | -25.8% | +90.4% |
| 2011 | -6.9% | -73.1% |
| 2012 | -5.0% | -28.0% |
| 2013 | -7.7% | +54.8% |
| 2014 | -8.8% | +13.4% |
| 2015 | -7.5% | -15.0% |
| 2016 | -6.1% | -18.4% |
| 2017 | -4.8% | -20.6% |
| 2018 | -4.2% | -12.3% |
| 2019 | -10.0% | +135.8% |
| 2020 | -4.3% | -56.6% |
| 2021 | -14.3% | +229.4% |
| 2022 | -18.6% | +29.8% |
| 2023 | -28.6% | +54.1% |
| 2024 | -30.2% | +5.6% |
Solomon Islands compared with similar countries
- Solomon Islands's -30.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -9.2%, 3.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Solomon Islands's -30.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -9.4%, 3.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Solomon Islands 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | -470.6% | -2.1% | -12.0% |
| 1999 | +280.6% | -2.1% | 3.8% |
| 2021 | -229.4% | -4.3% | -14.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -49.8% | -69.4% | -39.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | -27.7% | -62.7% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | -12.0% | -19.5% | -2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -8.7% | -25.8% | -4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | -19.2% | -30.2% | -4.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Solomon Islands
More economy & growth data for Solomon Islands
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 5.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.9064 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -99.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0035 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 7.33 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -99.64 % change on previous year (2024)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0026 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 5.36 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -12.23 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Solomon Islands?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Solomon Islands was -30.2% in 2024, 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 Solomon Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 1999.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Solomon Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was -69.4% in 1989.
- How does Solomon Islands rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Solomon Islands ranks 170th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Solomon Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 244.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Solomon Islands 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.