External balance on goods and services in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: External balance on goods and services was -1.22 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1994–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Democratic Republic of Congo is -1.22 trillion current LCU, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 80.1% on the previous year and up 43.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 319.72 billion current LCU in 2021 and was at its lowest, -6.10 trillion current LCU, in 2024.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 166th 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 Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1.90 million current LCU | — |
| 1995 | 18.85 million current LCU | +892.3% |
| 1996 | -9.00 million current LCU | -147.7% |
| 1997 | 300.00 million current LCU | -3433.3% |
| 1998 | -309.60 million current LCU | -203.2% |
| 1999 | 3.16 billion current LCU | -1120.0% |
| 2000 | -54.20 billion current LCU | -1816.3% |
| 2001 | -23.80 billion current LCU | -56.1% |
| 2002 | 61.30 billion current LCU | -357.6% |
| 2003 | -218.50 billion current LCU | -456.4% |
| 2004 | -159.50 billion current LCU | -27.0% |
| 2005 | -281.34 billion current LCU | +76.4% |
| 2006 | -308.86 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2007 | -172.83 billion current LCU | -44.0% |
| 2008 | -632.62 billion current LCU | +266.0% |
| 2009 | -1.41 trillion current LCU | +122.5% |
| 2010 | -1.67 trillion current LCU | +18.3% |
| 2011 | -1.47 trillion current LCU | -12.0% |
| 2012 | -1.82 trillion current LCU | +24.1% |
| 2013 | -1.37 trillion current LCU | -24.4% |
| 2014 | -2.92 trillion current LCU | +112.2% |
| 2015 | -2.14 trillion current LCU | -26.8% |
| 2016 | -2.25 trillion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2017 | -2.06 trillion current LCU | -8.3% |
| 2018 | -2.75 trillion current LCU | +33.2% |
| 2019 | -3.07 trillion current LCU | +11.9% |
| 2020 | -1.16 trillion current LCU | -62.4% |
| 2021 | 319.72 billion current LCU | -127.7% |
| 2022 | -5.91 trillion current LCU | -1948.5% |
| 2023 | -4.49 trillion current LCU | -24.0% |
| 2024 | -6.10 trillion current LCU | +35.8% |
| 2025 | -1.22 trillion current LCU | -80.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -1.22 trillion current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is -480.38 billion current LCU, 2.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -1.22 trillion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 17.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +3433.3% | -9.00 million current LCU | 300.00 million current LCU |
| 2022 | -1948.5% | 319.72 billion current LCU | -5.91 trillion current LCU |
| 2000 | -1816.3% | 3.16 billion current LCU | -54.20 billion current LCU |
| 1999 | +1120.0% | -309.60 million current LCU | 3.16 billion current LCU |
| 1995 | +892.3% | 1.90 million current LCU | 18.85 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 526.69 million current LCU | -309.60 million current LCU | 3.16 billion current LCU | 6 |
| 2000s | -319.78 billion current LCU | -1.41 trillion current LCU | 61.30 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.15 trillion current LCU | -3.07 trillion current LCU | -1.37 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.09 trillion current LCU | -6.10 trillion current LCU | 319.72 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More economy & growth data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 197.81 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0026 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.81 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.87 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -35.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0205 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.58 % change on previous year (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0731 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 48.25 includes gold, current US$ per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- External balance on goods and services in Democratic Republic of Congo was -1.22 trillion 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 319.72 billion current LCU in 2021.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.10 trillion current LCU in 2024.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 166th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.