External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Palestine
Palestine: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -32.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Palestine, 1994–2025
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 Palestine is -32.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Palestine peaked at -30.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, -61.2%, in 1999.
That places Palestine 172nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Palestine, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | -57.4% | — |
| 1995 | -57.2% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | -57.2% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | -55.7% | -2.6% |
| 1998 | -52.9% | -5.1% |
| 1999 | -61.2% | +15.6% |
| 2000 | -46.6% | -23.8% |
| 2001 | -52.0% | +11.5% |
| 2002 | -49.4% | -5.0% |
| 2003 | -50.4% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | -55.2% | +9.4% |
| 2005 | -55.6% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | -55.1% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | -55.3% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | -47.6% | -14.0% |
| 2009 | -47.1% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | -40.3% | -14.6% |
| 2011 | -35.1% | -12.9% |
| 2012 | -36.3% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | -35.0% | -3.4% |
| 2014 | -36.1% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | -38.7% | +7.1% |
| 2016 | -36.8% | -4.9% |
| 2017 | -37.0% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | -39.5% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | -38.0% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | -36.6% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | -38.4% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | -45.5% | +18.5% |
| 2023 | -42.2% | -7.3% |
| 2024 | -30.9% | -26.8% |
| 2025 | -32.3% | +4.6% |
Palestine compared with similar countries
- Palestine's -32.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -9.2%, 3.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Palestine's -32.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -5.3%, 6.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -56.9% | -61.2% | -52.9% | 6 |
| 2000s | -51.4% | -55.6% | -46.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | -37.3% | -40.3% | -35.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -37.6% | -45.5% | -30.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Palestine
- 169 Moldova -29.2% compare
- 170 Solomon Islands -30.2% compare
- 171 American Samoa -30.8% compare
- 173 Lebanon -35.6% compare
- 174 Tajikistan -36.7% compare
- 175 Gambia -36.7% compare
More economy & growth data for Palestine
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -123.81 % change on previous year (2023)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 14.66 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0009 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 2.71 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 329.83 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 103.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0192 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 60.93 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 37.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1063 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Palestine?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Palestine was -32.3% 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 Palestine?
- The highest recorded value was -30.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Palestine?
- The lowest recorded value was -61.2% in 1999.
- How does Palestine rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Palestine ranks 172nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Palestine?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Palestine 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.