External balance on goods and services in Ireland
Ireland: External balance on goods and services was 229.34 billion constant LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Ireland, 1970–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in constant LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Ireland stood at 229.34 billion constant LCU. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.3% on the previous year and up 201.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Ireland peaked at 229.34 billion constant LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, -6.52 billion constant LCU, in 1979.
Ireland ranks 16th of 161 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Ireland, year by year
| Year | constant LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -3.15 billion constant LCU | — |
| 1971 | -3.33 billion constant LCU | +5.7% |
| 1972 | -3.59 billion constant LCU | +7.8% |
| 1973 | -4.80 billion constant LCU | +33.9% |
| 1974 | -4.48 billion constant LCU | -6.8% |
| 1975 | -2.72 billion constant LCU | -39.3% |
| 1976 | -3.63 billion constant LCU | +33.7% |
| 1977 | -4.05 billion constant LCU | +11.5% |
| 1978 | -5.02 billion constant LCU | +23.8% |
| 1979 | -6.52 billion constant LCU | +29.9% |
| 1980 | -4.96 billion constant LCU | -23.8% |
| 1981 | -5.02 billion constant LCU | +1.1% |
| 1982 | -3.77 billion constant LCU | -24.8% |
| 1983 | -3.18 billion constant LCU | -15.7% |
| 1984 | -2.50 billion constant LCU | -21.2% |
| 1985 | -2.02 billion constant LCU | -19.5% |
| 1986 | -2.63 billion constant LCU | +30.4% |
| 1987 | -1.38 billion constant LCU | -47.6% |
| 1988 | -564.83 million constant LCU | -59.0% |
| 1989 | -1.37 billion constant LCU | +143.1% |
| 1990 | -507.80 million constant LCU | -63.0% |
| 1991 | 401.35 million constant LCU | -179.0% |
| 1992 | 2.12 billion constant LCU | +428.6% |
| 1993 | 3.00 billion constant LCU | +41.6% |
| 1994 | 3.34 billion constant LCU | +11.2% |
| 1995 | 5.39 billion constant LCU | +61.4% |
| 1996 | 5.87 billion constant LCU | +8.9% |
| 1997 | 7.36 billion constant LCU | +25.5% |
| 1998 | 6.04 billion constant LCU | -17.9% |
| 1999 | 9.41 billion constant LCU | +55.7% |
| 2000 | 10.97 billion constant LCU | +16.6% |
| 2001 | 13.46 billion constant LCU | +22.7% |
| 2002 | 15.68 billion constant LCU | +16.5% |
| 2003 | 16.32 billion constant LCU | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 23.01 billion constant LCU | +41.0% |
| 2005 | 15.27 billion constant LCU | -33.6% |
| 2006 | 11.64 billion constant LCU | -23.8% |
| 2007 | 11.99 billion constant LCU | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 9.83 billion constant LCU | -18.0% |
| 2009 | 20.62 billion constant LCU | +109.7% |
| 2010 | 30.51 billion constant LCU | +48.0% |
| 2011 | 32.21 billion constant LCU | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 32.26 billion constant LCU | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 38.97 billion constant LCU | +20.8% |
| 2014 | 44.81 billion constant LCU | +15.0% |
| 2015 | 76.13 billion constant LCU | +69.9% |
| 2016 | 47.36 billion constant LCU | -37.8% |
| 2017 | 74.11 billion constant LCU | +56.5% |
| 2018 | 100.39 billion constant LCU | +35.5% |
| 2019 | 16.71 billion constant LCU | -83.4% |
| 2020 | 79.56 billion constant LCU | +376.2% |
| 2021 | 191.55 billion constant LCU | +140.7% |
| 2022 | 202.45 billion constant LCU | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 165.33 billion constant LCU | -18.3% |
| 2024 | 207.99 billion constant LCU | +25.8% |
| 2025 | 229.34 billion constant LCU | +10.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -4.13 billion constant LCU | -6.52 billion constant LCU | -2.72 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.74 billion constant LCU | -5.02 billion constant LCU | -564.83 million constant LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.24 billion constant LCU | -507.80 million constant LCU | 9.41 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.88 billion constant LCU | 9.83 billion constant LCU | 23.01 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.35 billion constant LCU | 16.71 billion constant LCU | 100.39 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 179.37 billion constant LCU | 79.56 billion constant LCU | 229.34 billion constant LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), annual growth rate 10.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6639 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per capita 87,359 current US$ per person (2025)
- GNI (current US$), annual growth rate 8.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6855 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GNI (current US$), per capita 90,204 current US$ per person (2025)
- GNI (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.6066 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Ireland?
- External balance on goods and services in Ireland was 229.34 billion constant LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 229.34 billion constant LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.52 billion constant LCU in 1979.
- How does Ireland rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Ireland ranks 16th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 201.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (constant LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in constant prices, meaning the series has been adjusted to account for price changes over time. The reference year for this adjustment varies by country. This series is expressed in local currency units.