External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sweden
Sweden: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 2.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.1%
Change on year
down 29.9%
World rank
63rd
of 191 countries
All-time high
6.9%
in 2006
All-time low
-1.3%
in 1980
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sweden, 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
Sweden recorded 2.1% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of down 29.9% on the previous year and down 34.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sweden peaked at 6.9% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -1.3%, in 1980.
That places Sweden 63rd 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -0.2% | — |
| 1961 | 0.7% | -413.1% |
| 1962 | 0.6% | -17.5% |
| 1963 | 0.5% | -13.1% |
| 1964 | 0.5% | +0.4% |
| 1965 | -0.5% | -190.9% |
| 1966 | -0.3% | -32.7% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | -175.7% |
| 1968 | 0.1% | -49.3% |
| 1969 | -0.0% | -117.3% |
| 1970 | -0.2% | +715.6% |
| 1971 | 1.4% | -883.6% |
| 1972 | 1.7% | +23.7% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +68.9% |
| 1974 | -0.2% | -108.1% |
| 1975 | 0.2% | -193.6% |
| 1976 | -1.1% | -615.6% |
| 1977 | -1.1% | -1.0% |
| 1978 | 1.3% | -218.8% |
| 1979 | -0.5% | -136.2% |
| 1980 | -1.3% | +169.2% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | -114.9% |
| 1982 | -0.1% | -173.9% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | -1595.5% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | +64.7% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | -53.4% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | +83.2% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | -40.6% |
| 1988 | 1.6% | -12.6% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -73.4% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | -29.3% |
| 1991 | 1.3% | +361.1% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 3.0% | +113.6% |
| 1994 | 3.7% | +23.6% |
| 1995 | 6.0% | +63.3% |
| 1996 | 5.7% | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 6.5% | +12.6% |
| 1998 | 5.9% | -8.4% |
| 1999 | 5.5% | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 5.3% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 6.7% | +25.4% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 6.9% | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -14.1% |
| 2008 | 5.2% | -11.5% |
| 2009 | 5.0% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 4.7% | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | -12.3% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | -19.3% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | -25.4% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -27.1% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -16.6% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | +159.8% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -60.8% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | +83.3% |
| 2024 | 3.0% | +9.2% |
| 2025 | 2.1% | -29.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.2% | -0.5% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4% | -1.1% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.3% | -1.3% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 0.3% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 5.0% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 1.5% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 1.5% | 4.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More economy & growth data for Sweden
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.62 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 8.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 757.39 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 19.15 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -37.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0286 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,807 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 18.58 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sweden?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sweden was 2.1% 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 6.9% in 2006.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.3% in 1980.
- How does Sweden rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Sweden ranks 63rd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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.