External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sudan
Sudan: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sudan, 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 Sudan is -0.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 68.2% on the previous year and up 96.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sudan peaked at 3.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -14.4%, in 1982.
That places Sudan 80th 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 Sudan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.6% | — |
| 1961 | -1.0% | -166.4% |
| 1962 | -0.4% | -58.2% |
| 1963 | -1.3% | +209.6% |
| 1964 | -2.4% | +79.2% |
| 1965 | -0.8% | -66.1% |
| 1966 | 0.4% | -145.2% |
| 1967 | -0.4% | -216.7% |
| 1968 | -1.7% | +303.2% |
| 1969 | 0.3% | -117.1% |
| 1970 | -0.1% | -123.1% |
| 1971 | -1.5% | +2157.8% |
| 1972 | -0.6% | -58.0% |
| 1973 | -2.2% | +235.7% |
| 1974 | -8.0% | +268.6% |
| 1975 | -10.6% | +32.4% |
| 1976 | -7.9% | -25.4% |
| 1977 | -7.3% | -8.4% |
| 1978 | -7.3% | +0.6% |
| 1979 | -9.4% | +28.9% |
| 1980 | -12.7% | +35.5% |
| 1981 | -14.0% | +9.8% |
| 1982 | -14.4% | +3.2% |
| 1983 | -10.7% | -26.2% |
| 1984 | -8.0% | -24.7% |
| 1985 | -6.1% | -23.7% |
| 1986 | -3.4% | -43.7% |
| 1987 | -5.6% | +63.1% |
| 1988 | -3.9% | -30.4% |
| 1989 | -4.0% | +2.2% |
| 1990 | -3.0% | -23.8% |
| 1991 | -8.4% | +175.9% |
| 1992 | -9.2% | +9.3% |
| 1993 | -3.0% | -67.3% |
| 1994 | -5.2% | +74.0% |
| 1995 | -4.8% | -7.6% |
| 1996 | -7.7% | +59.5% |
| 1997 | -7.2% | -7.0% |
| 1998 | -8.5% | +18.1% |
| 1999 | -9.2% | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | -128.0% |
| 2001 | -1.2% | -145.7% |
| 2002 | -2.8% | +139.4% |
| 2003 | -1.9% | -31.0% |
| 2004 | -1.8% | -5.4% |
| 2005 | -7.0% | +279.7% |
| 2006 | -6.0% | -13.5% |
| 2007 | -0.6% | -90.0% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | -729.2% |
| 2009 | -3.7% | -196.9% |
| 2010 | 2.2% | -160.5% |
| 2011 | -2.6% | -214.9% |
| 2012 | -8.1% | +218.7% |
| 2013 | -7.8% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | -5.6% | -28.3% |
| 2015 | -5.5% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | -5.3% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | -5.6% | +6.3% |
| 2018 | -6.6% | +17.1% |
| 2019 | -9.2% | +40.3% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | -103.2% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +26.0% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | +19.2% |
| 2023 | -0.3% | -158.1% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | +115.0% |
| 2025 | -0.2% | -68.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.6% | -2.4% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | -5.5% | -10.6% | -0.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | -8.3% | -14.4% | -3.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -6.6% | -9.2% | -3.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.9% | -7.0% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | -5.4% | -9.2% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | -0.6% | 0.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
More economy & growth data for Sudan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.1 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 5.73 % change on previous year (2017)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0043 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 4.17 current US$ per person (2017)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 30.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.179 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 208.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 84.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 396.14 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sudan?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sudan was -0.2% 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was -14.4% in 1982.
- How does Sudan rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Sudan ranks 80th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 96.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sudan 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.