External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -3.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-3.9%
Change on year
down 48.6%
World rank
100th
of 191 countries
All-time high
3.7%
in 1977
All-time low
-22.6%
in 1980
Years of data
61
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sri Lanka, 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
Sri Lanka recorded -3.9% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 48.6% on the previous year and up 45.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sri Lanka peaked at 3.7% in 1977 and was at its lowest, -22.6%, in 1980.
That places Sri Lanka 100th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -3.0% | — |
| 1961 | -0.9% | -68.0% |
| 1962 | -1.4% | +48.6% |
| 1963 | -1.7% | +23.2% |
| 1964 | -2.1% | +21.3% |
| 1965 | 0.4% | -119.4% |
| 1966 | -3.5% | -952.1% |
| 1967 | -2.8% | -18.2% |
| 1968 | -3.0% | +4.3% |
| 1969 | -6.2% | +109.8% |
| 1970 | -3.1% | -49.4% |
| 1971 | -2.0% | -36.4% |
| 1972 | -1.6% | -21.3% |
| 1973 | -1.2% | -23.0% |
| 1974 | -7.5% | +516.3% |
| 1975 | -7.5% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | -2.3% | -68.7% |
| 1977 | 3.7% | -256.7% |
| 1978 | -4.8% | -230.5% |
| 1979 | -12.0% | +152.2% |
| 1980 | -22.6% | +87.5% |
| 1981 | -16.1% | -28.8% |
| 1982 | -18.9% | +17.6% |
| 1983 | -15.1% | -20.1% |
| 1984 | -5.9% | -60.7% |
| 1985 | -12.0% | +101.2% |
| 1986 | -11.6% | -2.9% |
| 1987 | -10.5% | -9.5% |
| 1988 | -10.8% | +2.4% |
| 1989 | -9.5% | -11.7% |
| 1990 | -7.9% | -17.0% |
| 1991 | -10.1% | +28.3% |
| 1992 | -9.3% | -8.4% |
| 1993 | -9.5% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | -11.8% | +23.7% |
| 1995 | -10.4% | -11.6% |
| 1996 | -8.9% | -14.5% |
| 1997 | -7.1% | -20.9% |
| 1998 | -6.0% | -14.9% |
| 1999 | -7.8% | +29.6% |
| 2000 | -10.6% | +36.2% |
| 2001 | -6.2% | -41.2% |
| 2002 | -6.5% | +4.4% |
| 2003 | -6.0% | -7.4% |
| 2004 | -8.8% | +46.3% |
| 2005 | -8.9% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | -11.0% | +23.2% |
| 2007 | -10.4% | -5.7% |
| 2008 | -13.7% | +31.9% |
| 2009 | -6.5% | -52.6% |
| 2015 | -7.1% | +9.8% |
| 2016 | -6.8% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | -6.7% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | -6.9% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | -5.8% | -16.5% |
| 2020 | -6.2% | +6.8% |
| 2021 | -7.4% | +19.6% |
| 2022 | -3.6% | -51.8% |
| 2023 | -2.1% | -39.7% |
| 2024 | -2.6% | +21.4% |
| 2025 | -3.9% | +48.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -2.4% | -6.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | -3.8% | -12.0% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | -13.3% | -22.6% | -5.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | -8.9% | -11.8% | -6.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | -8.9% | -13.7% | -6.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.7% | -7.1% | -5.8% | 5 |
| 2020s | -4.3% | -7.4% | -2.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 97 Benin -3.0% compare
- 98 United States of America -3.1% compare
- 99 Bahamas -3.7% compare
- 101 Bolivia, Plurinational State of -4.1% compare
- 102 Dominican Republic -4.2% compare
- 103 Serbia -4.3% compare
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 110.33 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0011 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.03 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 761.14 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 6.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0076 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 34.73 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 38.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sri Lanka?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sri Lanka was -3.9% 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3.7% in 1977.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -22.6% in 1980.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Sri Lanka ranks 100th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.