External balance on goods and services in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: External balance on goods and services was -1.04 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Ethiopia, 2011–2025
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 Ethiopia stood at -1.04 trillion current LCU. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 39.6% on the previous year and down 283.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Ethiopia peaked at -76.54 billion current LCU in 2011 and was at its lowest, -1.04 trillion current LCU, in 2025.
Ethiopia ranks 164th 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | -76.54 billion current LCU | — |
| 2012 | -133.50 billion current LCU | +74.4% |
| 2013 | -143.07 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2014 | -185.19 billion current LCU | +29.4% |
| 2015 | -271.66 billion current LCU | +46.7% |
| 2016 | -302.25 billion current LCU | +11.3% |
| 2017 | -290.40 billion current LCU | -3.9% |
| 2018 | -318.01 billion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2019 | -348.06 billion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2020 | -329.10 billion current LCU | -5.4% |
| 2021 | -394.24 billion current LCU | +19.8% |
| 2022 | -622.33 billion current LCU | +57.9% |
| 2023 | -646.07 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2024 | -745.01 billion current LCU | +15.3% |
| 2025 | -1.04 trillion current LCU | +39.6% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's -1.04 trillion current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is -480.38 billion current LCU, 2.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's -1.04 trillion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 15.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | -229.85 billion current LCU | -348.06 billion current LCU | -76.54 billion current LCU | 9 |
| 2020s | -629.51 billion current LCU | -1.04 trillion current LCU | -329.10 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 161 Kyrgyzstan -766.53 billion current LCU compare
- 162 Mali -808.18 billion current LCU compare
- 163 United States -898.46 billion current LCU compare
- 165 Kenya -1.05 trillion current LCU compare
- 166 Democratic Republic of Congo -1.22 trillion current LCU compare
- 167 Sri Lanka -1.27 trillion current LCU compare
More economy & growth data for Ethiopia
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 0 BoP, current US$ (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0 BoP, current US$ per person (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.02 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 23.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0269 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 30.45 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 86.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0253 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 28.66 includes gold, current US$ per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Ethiopia?
- External balance on goods and services in Ethiopia was -1.04 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was -76.54 billion current LCU in 2011.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.04 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- How does Ethiopia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Ethiopia ranks 164th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 283.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.