External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United States of America
United States of America: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -3.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United States of America, 1970–2024
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
United States of America recorded -3.1% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2024.
That represents a change of down 8.4% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United States of America peaked at 0.9% in 1975 and was at its lowest, -5.7%, in 2006.
That places United States of America 98th out of 191 countries with data for 2024, 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 States of America, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.4% | — |
| 1971 | 0.1% | -85.5% |
| 1972 | -0.3% | -594.6% |
| 1973 | 0.3% | -209.3% |
| 1974 | -0.1% | -118.3% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | -1897.8% |
| 1976 | -0.1% | -109.2% |
| 1977 | -1.1% | +1174.2% |
| 1978 | -1.1% | -2.8% |
| 1979 | -0.9% | -20.5% |
| 1980 | -0.5% | -46.8% |
| 1981 | -0.4% | -14.6% |
| 1982 | -0.6% | +53.0% |
| 1983 | -1.4% | +137.9% |
| 1984 | -2.5% | +79.0% |
| 1985 | -2.6% | +3.3% |
| 1986 | -2.9% | +9.6% |
| 1987 | -3.0% | +3.6% |
| 1988 | -2.1% | -29.9% |
| 1989 | -1.5% | -26.4% |
| 1990 | -1.3% | -15.1% |
| 1991 | -0.5% | -64.4% |
| 1992 | -0.5% | +14.7% |
| 1993 | -1.0% | +78.4% |
| 1994 | -1.3% | +33.6% |
| 1995 | -1.2% | -7.4% |
| 1996 | -1.2% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | -1.2% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | -1.8% | +51.0% |
| 1999 | -2.7% | +50.1% |
| 2000 | -3.7% | +37.9% |
| 2001 | -3.6% | -4.2% |
| 2002 | -4.0% | +13.0% |
| 2003 | -4.6% | +13.2% |
| 2004 | -5.2% | +13.9% |
| 2005 | -5.7% | +9.3% |
| 2006 | -5.7% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | -5.1% | -10.7% |
| 2008 | -5.0% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | -2.9% | -42.3% |
| 2010 | -3.5% | +22.2% |
| 2011 | -3.7% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | -3.4% | -8.7% |
| 2013 | -2.8% | -16.5% |
| 2014 | -2.9% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | -2.9% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | -2.7% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | -2.8% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | -2.9% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | -2.7% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | -2.9% | +8.0% |
| 2021 | -3.6% | +23.7% |
| 2022 | -3.6% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | -2.8% | -21.4% |
| 2024 | -3.1% | +8.4% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's -3.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%. (72 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United States of America 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +1897.8% | -0.1% | 0.9% |
| 1977 | -1174.2% | -0.1% | -1.1% |
| 1972 | -594.6% | 0.1% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | +209.3% | -0.3% | 0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -0.2% | -1.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.8% | -3.0% | -0.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.3% | -2.7% | -0.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | -4.5% | -5.7% | -2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.0% | -3.7% | -2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.2% | -3.6% | -2.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More economy & growth data for United States of America
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 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$), gaps 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,235 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 400.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 34.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,172 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 52.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United States of America?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United States of America was -3.1% in 2024, 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9% in 1975.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.7% in 2006.
- How does United States of America rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- United States of America ranks 98th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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.