External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -22.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Vanuatu, 1980–2024
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
Vanuatu recorded -22.7% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.4% on the previous year and down 346.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Vanuatu peaked at 1.6% in 1997 and was at its lowest, -44.3%, in 2021.
That places Vanuatu 161st out of 191 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom 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 Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -8.1% | — |
| 1981 | -2.1% | -74.6% |
| 1982 | -2.2% | +5.8% |
| 1983 | -11.9% | +450.0% |
| 1984 | -4.3% | -64.1% |
| 1985 | -19.1% | +345.8% |
| 1986 | -28.2% | +47.7% |
| 1987 | -26.7% | -5.3% |
| 1988 | -23.1% | -13.6% |
| 1989 | -23.9% | +3.7% |
| 1990 | -24.3% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | -14.2% | -41.5% |
| 1992 | -9.1% | -36.1% |
| 1993 | -8.7% | -4.5% |
| 1994 | -7.8% | -9.5% |
| 1995 | -8.2% | +4.5% |
| 1996 | -6.7% | -18.0% |
| 1997 | 1.6% | -124.2% |
| 1998 | -10.2% | -724.7% |
| 1999 | -16.5% | +62.2% |
| 2000 | -8.8% | -46.6% |
| 2001 | -11.9% | +34.8% |
| 2002 | -7.1% | -40.3% |
| 2003 | -5.0% | -29.1% |
| 2004 | -7.5% | +49.7% |
| 2005 | -9.4% | +25.3% |
| 2006 | -7.0% | -25.6% |
| 2007 | -7.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | -12.8% | +83.2% |
| 2009 | -7.4% | -42.4% |
| 2010 | -6.4% | -13.4% |
| 2011 | -5.8% | -9.4% |
| 2012 | -1.8% | -68.4% |
| 2013 | -2.7% | +46.2% |
| 2014 | -5.1% | +90.0% |
| 2015 | -23.0% | +352.8% |
| 2016 | -17.1% | -25.7% |
| 2017 | -14.7% | -13.7% |
| 2018 | -13.9% | -5.9% |
| 2019 | -23.4% | +69.0% |
| 2020 | -38.1% | +62.4% |
| 2021 | -44.3% | +16.2% |
| 2022 | -39.8% | -10.1% |
| 2023 | -21.3% | -46.4% |
| 2024 | -22.7% | +6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -15.0% | -28.2% | -2.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -10.4% | -24.3% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -8.4% | -12.8% | -5.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | -11.4% | -23.4% | -1.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -33.2% | -44.3% | -21.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
More economy & growth data for Vanuatu
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.2699 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.49 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate -4.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4736 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 1,875 current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 26.91 % change on previous year (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.2144 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 848.91 current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 26.96 % change on previous year (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 25.55 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Vanuatu?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Vanuatu was -22.7% 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 Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 1.6% in 1997.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was -44.3% in 2021.
- How does Vanuatu rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Vanuatu ranks 161st out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 346.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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.