External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Uruguay
Uruguay: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 4.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.4%
Change on year
down 11.7%
World rank
45th
of 191 countries
All-time high
7.6%
in 2021
All-time low
-5.6%
in 1980
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Uruguay, 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
In 2025, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Uruguay stood at 4.4%.
That represents a change of down 11.7% on the previous year and up 1,288.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Uruguay peaked at 7.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, -5.6%, in 1980.
Uruguay ranks 45th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -4.8% | — |
| 1961 | -0.6% | -88.2% |
| 1962 | -3.1% | +444.3% |
| 1963 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1964 | 0.6% | — |
| 1965 | 6.9% | +1059.4% |
| 1966 | 5.6% | -18.5% |
| 1967 | 1.4% | -74.6% |
| 1968 | 3.0% | +108.0% |
| 1969 | 1.3% | -57.4% |
| 1970 | -1.3% | -204.2% |
| 1971 | -1.1% | -13.0% |
| 1972 | 0.5% | -147.2% |
| 1973 | 0.9% | +68.3% |
| 1974 | -2.5% | -375.0% |
| 1975 | -3.5% | +39.4% |
| 1976 | -0.5% | -85.2% |
| 1977 | -2.8% | +431.8% |
| 1978 | -2.3% | -16.5% |
| 1979 | -4.3% | +87.8% |
| 1980 | -5.6% | +29.2% |
| 1981 | -3.8% | -31.6% |
| 1982 | -3.0% | -22.5% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | -170.3% |
| 1984 | 5.2% | +149.6% |
| 1985 | 5.7% | +8.7% |
| 1986 | 5.9% | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 2.4% | -58.9% |
| 1988 | 4.3% | +76.9% |
| 1989 | 5.8% | +34.1% |
| 1990 | 5.4% | -6.2% |
| 1991 | 2.8% | -47.9% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -71.0% |
| 1993 | -0.4% | -152.7% |
| 1994 | -0.6% | +42.1% |
| 1995 | -0.1% | -83.1% |
| 1996 | -0.2% | +81.1% |
| 1997 | -2.8% | +1380.7% |
| 1998 | -2.8% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | -3.2% | +14.0% |
| 2000 | -3.3% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | -2.7% | -18.6% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | -145.0% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | +155.8% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | -11.5% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | -29.8% |
| 2006 | -1.4% | -171.3% |
| 2007 | -1.0% | -25.2% |
| 2008 | -4.8% | +366.5% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | -116.7% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | +22.8% |
| 2011 | -0.4% | -140.8% |
| 2012 | -3.2% | +700.0% |
| 2013 | -3.0% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | -2.0% | -33.5% |
| 2015 | -0.4% | -81.4% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | -1547.6% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 5.1% | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | +20.1% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | -23.4% |
| 2021 | 7.6% | +63.1% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | -26.3% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | -34.9% |
| 2024 | 5.0% | +37.9% |
| 2025 | 4.4% | -11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.0% | -4.8% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.7% | -4.3% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | -5.6% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.1% | -3.2% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.3% | -4.8% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4% | -3.2% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 3.6% | 7.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More economy & growth data for Uruguay
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 9.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2223 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 5,606 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.176 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 4,439 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 7.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 7.25 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Uruguay?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Uruguay was 4.4% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.6% in 1980.
- How does Uruguay rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Uruguay ranks 45th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,288.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.