External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Thailand
Thailand: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 3.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.9%
Change on year
up 7.2%
World rank
49th
of 191 countries
All-time high
15.6%
in 1998
All-time low
-7.5%
in 1990
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Thailand, 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
Thailand recorded 3.9% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.2% 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 Thailand peaked at 15.6% in 1998 and was at its lowest, -7.5%, in 1990.
That places Thailand 49th 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -1.3% | — |
| 1961 | 0.2% | -117.7% |
| 1962 | -2.0% | -970.8% |
| 1963 | -3.2% | +65.1% |
| 1964 | -1.4% | -56.2% |
| 1965 | -1.2% | -15.1% |
| 1966 | -0.3% | -72.5% |
| 1967 | -2.0% | +518.4% |
| 1968 | -3.7% | +82.6% |
| 1969 | -4.0% | +6.8% |
| 1970 | -4.4% | +9.1% |
| 1971 | -2.8% | -35.3% |
| 1972 | -1.0% | -64.8% |
| 1973 | -1.4% | +45.1% |
| 1974 | -2.4% | +63.9% |
| 1975 | -4.6% | +94.9% |
| 1976 | -2.5% | -46.4% |
| 1977 | -5.4% | +119.4% |
| 1978 | -4.2% | -22.0% |
| 1979 | -6.7% | +59.1% |
| 1980 | -6.3% | -7.0% |
| 1981 | -6.3% | +0.3% |
| 1982 | -1.7% | -72.7% |
| 1983 | -7.2% | +318.2% |
| 1984 | -4.3% | -40.4% |
| 1985 | -2.7% | -36.1% |
| 1986 | 2.0% | -174.5% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | -72.4% |
| 1988 | -1.4% | -348.1% |
| 1989 | -2.6% | +84.5% |
| 1990 | -7.5% | +193.2% |
| 1991 | -6.5% | -13.0% |
| 1992 | -4.0% | -38.7% |
| 1993 | -4.1% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | -4.8% | +15.9% |
| 1995 | -6.7% | +40.4% |
| 1996 | -6.2% | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | -122.8% |
| 1998 | 15.6% | +999.2% |
| 1999 | 12.2% | -22.2% |
| 2000 | 8.4% | -31.1% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | -25.6% |
| 2002 | 6.3% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 6.4% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -28.7% |
| 2005 | -1.0% | -123.1% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -411.3% |
| 2007 | 7.9% | +141.2% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | -69.6% |
| 2009 | 9.6% | +301.0% |
| 2010 | 5.7% | -40.4% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | -64.4% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -88.8% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +726.3% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | +212.9% |
| 2015 | 10.4% | +77.4% |
| 2016 | 13.6% | +30.0% |
| 2017 | 12.5% | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 8.8% | -29.1% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | -46.4% |
| 2021 | -0.3% | -105.8% |
| 2022 | -2.1% | +641.9% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | -204.1% |
| 2024 | 3.6% | +62.0% |
| 2025 | 3.9% | +7.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.9% | -4.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | -3.5% | -6.7% | -1.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.0% | -7.2% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.1% | -7.5% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | -1.0% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.0% | 0.2% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | -2.1% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More economy & growth data for Thailand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.98 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0162 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 130.33 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 18.84 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 31.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0327 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 263.07 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 19.13 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Thailand?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Thailand 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 1998.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.5% in 1990.
- How does Thailand rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Thailand ranks 49th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.