External balance on goods and services in Bhutan
Bhutan: External balance on goods and services was -45.85 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Bhutan, 1980–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Bhutan recorded -45.85 billion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.2% on the previous year and down 83.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Bhutan peaked at -256.51 million current LCU in 1980 and was at its lowest, -78.76 billion current LCU, in 2022.
That places Bhutan 128th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -256.51 million current LCU | — |
| 1981 | -413.27 million current LCU | +61.1% |
| 1982 | -479.01 million current LCU | +15.9% |
| 1983 | -563.82 million current LCU | +17.7% |
| 1984 | -619.15 million current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1985 | -770.00 million current LCU | +24.4% |
| 1986 | -883.45 million current LCU | +14.7% |
| 1987 | -477.23 million current LCU | -46.0% |
| 1988 | -831.49 million current LCU | +74.2% |
| 1989 | -444.27 million current LCU | -46.6% |
| 1990 | -266.60 million current LCU | -40.0% |
| 1991 | -494.77 million current LCU | +85.6% |
| 1992 | -1.55 billion current LCU | +214.2% |
| 1993 | -898.37 million current LCU | -42.2% |
| 1994 | -840.78 million current LCU | -6.4% |
| 1995 | -477.70 million current LCU | -43.2% |
| 1996 | -1.14 billion current LCU | +138.9% |
| 1997 | -1.36 billion current LCU | +18.9% |
| 1998 | -2.54 billion current LCU | +87.0% |
| 1999 | -3.53 billion current LCU | +39.3% |
| 2000 | -3.73 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2001 | -4.83 billion current LCU | +29.3% |
| 2002 | -6.65 billion current LCU | +37.7% |
| 2003 | -7.33 billion current LCU | +10.3% |
| 2004 | -9.92 billion current LCU | +35.3% |
| 2005 | -9.46 billion current LCU | -4.6% |
| 2006 | -1.94 billion current LCU | -79.5% |
| 2007 | -1.15 billion current LCU | -40.6% |
| 2008 | -5.02 billion current LCU | +336.4% |
| 2009 | -10.71 billion current LCU | +113.5% |
| 2010 | -20.50 billion current LCU | +91.3% |
| 2011 | -24.87 billion current LCU | +21.3% |
| 2012 | -23.69 billion current LCU | -4.7% |
| 2013 | -22.99 billion current LCU | -3.0% |
| 2014 | -24.93 billion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 2015 | -37.29 billion current LCU | +49.6% |
| 2016 | -35.07 billion current LCU | -5.9% |
| 2017 | -33.57 billion current LCU | -4.3% |
| 2018 | -37.74 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 2019 | -25.45 billion current LCU | -32.6% |
| 2020 | -28.59 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 2021 | -39.26 billion current LCU | +37.3% |
| 2022 | -78.76 billion current LCU | +100.6% |
| 2023 | -62.12 billion current LCU | -21.1% |
| 2024 | -45.85 billion current LCU | -26.2% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's -45.85 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU, 80% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's -45.85 billion current LCU is above the median for South Asia, which is -1.41 trillion current LCU, 3% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Bhutan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | -336.4% | -1.15 billion current LCU | -5.02 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -573.82 million current LCU | -883.45 million current LCU | -256.51 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.31 billion current LCU | -3.53 billion current LCU | -266.60 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -6.07 billion current LCU | -10.71 billion current LCU | -1.15 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -28.61 billion current LCU | -37.74 billion current LCU | -20.50 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -50.92 billion current LCU | -78.76 billion current LCU | -28.59 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 125 United Kingdom -38.41 billion current LCU compare
- 126 Guyana -41.39 billion current LCU compare
- 127 Zimbabwe -44.35 billion current LCU compare
- 129 Namibia -51.87 billion current LCU compare
- 130 Tajikistan -57.12 billion current LCU compare
- 131 Mauritania -66.54 billion current LCU compare
More economy & growth data for Bhutan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.11 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 2.82 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -72.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0008 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 3.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 26.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3328 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 1,495 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 24.21 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Bhutan?
- External balance on goods and services in Bhutan was -45.85 billion current LCU in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was -256.51 million current LCU in 1980.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was -78.76 billion current LCU in 2022.
- How does Bhutan rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Bhutan ranks 128th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.