External balance on goods and services in Benin
Benin: External balance on goods and services was -430.60 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-430.60 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 11.7%
World rank
154th
of 193 countries
All-time high
-2.86 billion current LCU
in 1961
All-time low
-609.89 billion current LCU
in 2021
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Benin, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Benin stood at -430.60 billion current LCU.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.7% on the previous year and up 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Benin peaked at -2.86 billion current LCU in 1961 and was at its lowest, -609.89 billion current LCU, in 2021.
Benin ranks 154th of 193 countries on this measure, 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 in Benin, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -3.32 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | -2.86 billion current LCU | -13.8% |
| 1962 | -3.73 billion current LCU | +30.4% |
| 1963 | -4.86 billion current LCU | +30.1% |
| 1964 | -4.70 billion current LCU | -3.3% |
| 1965 | -5.43 billion current LCU | +15.5% |
| 1966 | -6.96 billion current LCU | +28.2% |
| 1967 | -9.12 billion current LCU | +31.1% |
| 1968 | -7.87 billion current LCU | -13.7% |
| 1969 | -8.30 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 1970 | -8.56 billion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 1971 | -9.27 billion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 1972 | -12.84 billion current LCU | +38.5% |
| 1973 | -11.57 billion current LCU | -9.9% |
| 1974 | -20.26 billion current LCU | +75.2% |
| 1975 | -27.39 billion current LCU | +35.2% |
| 1976 | -30.10 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 1977 | -34.28 billion current LCU | +13.9% |
| 1978 | -37.77 billion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 1979 | -49.22 billion current LCU | +30.3% |
| 1980 | -63.85 billion current LCU | +29.7% |
| 1981 | -98.33 billion current LCU | +54.0% |
| 1982 | -92.97 billion current LCU | -5.5% |
| 1983 | -74.35 billion current LCU | -20.0% |
| 1984 | -52.14 billion current LCU | -29.9% |
| 1985 | -61.06 billion current LCU | +17.1% |
| 1986 | -73.75 billion current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1987 | -73.64 billion current LCU | -0.1% |
| 1988 | -88.21 billion current LCU | +19.8% |
| 1989 | -54.20 billion current LCU | -38.6% |
| 1990 | -39.26 billion current LCU | -27.6% |
| 1991 | -52.34 billion current LCU | +33.3% |
| 1992 | -61.00 billion current LCU | +16.6% |
| 1993 | -67.32 billion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 1994 | -68.73 billion current LCU | +2.1% |
| 1995 | -98.14 billion current LCU | +42.8% |
| 1996 | -42.52 billion current LCU | -56.7% |
| 1997 | -57.72 billion current LCU | +35.7% |
| 1998 | -78.33 billion current LCU | +35.7% |
| 1999 | -189.50 billion current LCU | +141.9% |
| 2000 | -153.43 billion current LCU | -19.0% |
| 2001 | -228.77 billion current LCU | +49.1% |
| 2002 | -125.56 billion current LCU | -45.1% |
| 2003 | -134.24 billion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2004 | -93.88 billion current LCU | -30.1% |
| 2005 | -73.71 billion current LCU | -21.5% |
| 2006 | -134.46 billion current LCU | +82.4% |
| 2007 | -196.60 billion current LCU | +46.2% |
| 2008 | -152.52 billion current LCU | -22.4% |
| 2009 | -221.98 billion current LCU | +45.5% |
| 2010 | -249.43 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 2011 | -278.05 billion current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2012 | -167.42 billion current LCU | -39.8% |
| 2013 | -250.95 billion current LCU | +49.9% |
| 2014 | -157.86 billion current LCU | -37.1% |
| 2015 | -492.53 billion current LCU | +212.0% |
| 2016 | -264.33 billion current LCU | -46.3% |
| 2017 | -521.10 billion current LCU | +97.1% |
| 2018 | -574.09 billion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 2019 | -372.73 billion current LCU | -35.1% |
| 2020 | -458.39 billion current LCU | +23.0% |
| 2021 | -609.89 billion current LCU | +33.0% |
| 2022 | -298.60 billion current LCU | -51.0% |
| 2023 | -555.70 billion current LCU | +86.1% |
| 2024 | -385.50 billion current LCU | -30.6% |
| 2025 | -430.60 billion current LCU | +11.7% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's -430.60 billion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU, 7.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Benin's -430.60 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 6.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -5.71 billion current LCU | -9.12 billion current LCU | -2.86 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | -24.13 billion current LCU | -49.22 billion current LCU | -8.56 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -73.25 billion current LCU | -98.33 billion current LCU | -52.14 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -75.49 billion current LCU | -189.50 billion current LCU | -39.26 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -151.52 billion current LCU | -228.77 billion current LCU | -73.71 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -332.85 billion current LCU | -574.09 billion current LCU | -157.86 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -456.45 billion current LCU | -609.89 billion current LCU | -298.60 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 151 Central African Republic -253.67 billion current LCU compare
- 152 Niger -300.05 billion current LCU compare
- 153 Dominican Republic -332.89 billion current LCU compare
- 155 Cuba -433.06 billion current LCU compare
- 156 Serbia -446.61 billion current LCU compare
- 157 Haiti -535.15 billion current LCU compare
More economy & growth data for Benin
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 60.28 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0028 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.17 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 543.01 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0253 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 37.55 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 12.54 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Benin?
- External balance on goods and services in Benin was -430.60 billion current 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 Benin?
- The highest recorded value was -2.86 billion current LCU in 1961.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was -609.89 billion current LCU in 2021.
- How does Benin rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Benin ranks 154th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin 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 (current 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 current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.