External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Somalia
Somalia: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -69.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Somalia, 1960–2025
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
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Somalia is -69.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and down 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Somalia peaked at -3.5% in 1965 and was at its lowest, -69.6%, in 2025.
That places Somalia 189th 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -4.4% | — |
| 1961 | -7.1% | +60.0% |
| 1962 | -14.7% | +107.7% |
| 1963 | -10.1% | -31.4% |
| 1964 | -14.5% | +43.1% |
| 1965 | -3.5% | -75.9% |
| 1966 | -7.6% | +118.4% |
| 1967 | -8.6% | +13.0% |
| 1968 | -6.6% | -23.0% |
| 1969 | -7.7% | +15.6% |
| 1970 | -4.8% | -36.8% |
| 1971 | -6.3% | +31.0% |
| 1972 | -4.5% | -29.4% |
| 1973 | -13.6% | +203.5% |
| 1974 | -18.4% | +35.3% |
| 1975 | -13.5% | -26.4% |
| 1976 | -12.8% | -5.5% |
| 1977 | -39.0% | +204.5% |
| 1978 | -30.3% | -22.2% |
| 1979 | -51.3% | +69.4% |
| 1980 | -55.4% | +8.0% |
| 1981 | -43.5% | -21.4% |
| 1982 | -42.1% | -3.4% |
| 1983 | -49.0% | +16.4% |
| 1984 | -46.5% | -4.9% |
| 1985 | -13.0% | -72.1% |
| 1986 | -22.8% | +75.3% |
| 1987 | -24.3% | +6.7% |
| 1988 | -17.1% | -29.5% |
| 1989 | -34.4% | +100.7% |
| 1990 | -24.9% | -27.8% |
| 2012 | -49.5% | +99.0% |
| 2013 | -46.1% | -6.8% |
| 2014 | -43.4% | -5.9% |
| 2015 | -42.7% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | -42.1% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | -42.6% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | -45.4% | +6.6% |
| 2019 | -44.2% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | -48.4% | +9.6% |
| 2021 | -46.8% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | -55.4% | +18.4% |
| 2023 | -59.2% | +6.9% |
| 2024 | -67.9% | +14.6% |
| 2025 | -69.6% | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -8.5% | -14.7% | -3.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | -19.5% | -51.3% | -4.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | -34.8% | -55.4% | -13.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | -24.9% | -24.9% | -24.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | -44.5% | -49.5% | -42.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | -57.9% | -69.6% | -46.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 186 Afghanistan -52.4% compare
- 187 Lesotho -54.9% compare
- 188 Guam -56.1% compare
- 190 Timor-Leste -74.3% compare
- 191 Kiribati -93.1% compare
More economy & growth data for Somalia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 765.00 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 13.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0639 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 40.24 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -0.3355 % change on previous year (1989)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0196 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 3.25 includes gold, current US$ per person (1989)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 0.6536 % change on previous year (1989)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Somalia?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Somalia was -69.6% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was -3.5% in 1965.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was -69.6% in 2025.
- How does Somalia rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Somalia ranks 189th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.