External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -1.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1970–2025
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is -1.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 73.8% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 3.1% in 1981 and was at its lowest, -4.5%, in 1974.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 90th 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.1% | — |
| 1971 | 1.6% | +48.9% |
| 1972 | 0.1% | -92.6% |
| 1973 | -2.1% | -1879.9% |
| 1974 | -4.5% | +118.0% |
| 1975 | -1.4% | -68.6% |
| 1976 | -0.8% | -43.0% |
| 1977 | 1.0% | -227.3% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | +57.7% |
| 1979 | 0.7% | -58.7% |
| 1980 | 2.5% | +269.3% |
| 1981 | 3.1% | +25.5% |
| 1982 | 2.2% | -29.7% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | -42.8% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -79.8% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | +463.0% |
| 1986 | -0.3% | -122.4% |
| 1987 | -0.7% | +106.8% |
| 1988 | -3.0% | +358.7% |
| 1989 | -3.4% | +12.4% |
| 1990 | -1.6% | -53.1% |
| 1991 | -0.1% | -92.2% |
| 1992 | -0.5% | +268.4% |
| 1993 | -0.1% | -81.6% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | -419.7% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | +109.0% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -15.4% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | +11.9% |
| 1998 | -0.5% | -193.4% |
| 1999 | -1.0% | +110.3% |
| 2000 | -1.2% | +17.0% |
| 2001 | -1.7% | +41.6% |
| 2002 | -2.4% | +36.7% |
| 2003 | -2.1% | -10.2% |
| 2004 | -2.3% | +8.9% |
| 2005 | -2.1% | -8.2% |
| 2006 | -1.9% | -11.8% |
| 2007 | -1.9% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | -1.7% | -13.2% |
| 2009 | -1.2% | -26.1% |
| 2010 | -1.6% | +25.8% |
| 2011 | -0.8% | -49.0% |
| 2012 | -1.0% | +22.1% |
| 2013 | -1.3% | +34.5% |
| 2014 | -1.8% | +34.7% |
| 2015 | -1.4% | -22.2% |
| 2016 | -1.7% | +25.6% |
| 2017 | -1.2% | -27.6% |
| 2018 | -1.2% | -3.3% |
| 2019 | -1.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -161.6% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -94.5% |
| 2022 | -1.1% | -2759.2% |
| 2023 | -1.2% | +8.6% |
| 2024 | -0.7% | -37.8% |
| 2025 | -1.3% | +73.8% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's -1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%. (72 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's -1.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8%. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -2759.2% | 0.0% | -1.1% |
| 1973 | -1879.9% | 0.1% | -2.1% |
| 1985 | +463.0% | 0.3% | 1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -0.3% | -4.5% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | -3.4% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.2% | -1.6% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.9% | -2.4% | -1.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.3% | -1.8% | -0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.6% | -1.3% | 0.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 86.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0217 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,251 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 691.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0191 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,103 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 22.77 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was -1.3% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 1981.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.5% in 1974.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 90th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.