External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Viet Nam
Viet Nam: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 6.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Viet Nam, 1986–2025
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 Viet Nam stood at 6.2%.
The figure is down 4.6% on the previous year and up 560.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Viet Nam peaked at 8.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -13.6%, in 2008.
That places Viet Nam 31st out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Viet Nam, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | -10.0% | — |
| 1987 | -8.8% | -11.8% |
| 1988 | -11.1% | +25.7% |
| 1989 | -10.2% | -7.7% |
| 1990 | -9.2% | -9.5% |
| 1991 | -5.1% | -44.6% |
| 1992 | -4.1% | -20.2% |
| 1993 | -8.8% | +114.6% |
| 1994 | -9.4% | +7.8% |
| 1995 | -9.1% | -3.7% |
| 1996 | -11.0% | +20.6% |
| 1997 | -8.1% | -25.8% |
| 1998 | -7.3% | -10.3% |
| 1999 | -2.9% | -60.9% |
| 2000 | -3.6% | +25.2% |
| 2001 | -1.8% | -48.7% |
| 2002 | -7.2% | +294.0% |
| 2003 | -11.0% | +52.1% |
| 2004 | -13.6% | +23.4% |
| 2005 | -3.3% | -75.5% |
| 2006 | -2.9% | -13.1% |
| 2007 | -13.6% | +371.2% |
| 2008 | -13.6% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | -9.5% | -30.5% |
| 2010 | -5.6% | -40.7% |
| 2011 | -2.9% | -48.4% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | -228.4% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | -26.0% |
| 2014 | 3.8% | +37.5% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | -75.4% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | +201.1% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | -9.3% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +64.4% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | +34.1% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 1.0% | -81.4% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | +259.8% |
| 2023 | 8.5% | +130.0% |
| 2024 | 6.4% | -24.0% |
| 2025 | 6.2% | -4.6% |
Viet Nam compared with similar countries
- Viet Nam's 6.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -4.0%. (52 countries reporting)
- Viet Nam's 6.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -9.4%. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Viet Nam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | -371.2% | -2.9% | -13.6% |
| 2002 | -294.0% | -1.8% | -7.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -10.0% | -11.1% | -8.8% | 4 |
| 1990s | -7.5% | -11.0% | -2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | -8.0% | -13.6% | -1.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | -5.6% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2% | 1.0% | 8.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Viet Nam
- 28 Zambia 7.4% compare
- 29 Azerbaijan 6.2% compare
- 30 Costa Rica 6.2% compare
- 32 Kazakhstan 6.0% compare
- 33 Czechia 5.9% compare
- 34 Libya 5.8% compare
More economy & growth data for Viet Nam
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 600.00 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.94 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 20.17 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 9.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0423 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 199.73 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 3.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1663 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 842.34 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Viet Nam?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Viet Nam was 6.2% 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 Viet Nam?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Viet Nam?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.6% in 2008.
- How does Viet Nam rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Viet Nam ranks 31st out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Viet Nam?
- Over the last ten years it is up 560.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Viet Nam 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.