External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in France
France: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was -12.12 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-12.12 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 26.3%
World rank
115th
of 193 countries
All-time high
44.59 billion current LCU
in 1997
All-time low
-72.48 billion current LCU
in 2022
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in France, 1960–2025
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 France is -12.12 billion current LCU, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 26.3% on the previous year and down 367.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in France peaked at 44.59 billion current LCU in 1997 and was at its lowest, -72.48 billion current LCU, in 2022.
That places France 115th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, 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 (current LCU) in France, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.29 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 1.25 billion current LCU | -2.6% |
| 1962 | 869.00 million current LCU | -30.7% |
| 1963 | 633.40 million current LCU | -27.1% |
| 1964 | 333.30 million current LCU | -47.4% |
| 1965 | 1.15 billion current LCU | +243.7% |
| 1966 | 761.60 million current LCU | -33.5% |
| 1967 | 632.40 million current LCU | -17.0% |
| 1968 | 461.30 million current LCU | -27.1% |
| 1969 | -116.10 million current LCU | -125.2% |
| 1970 | 1.10 billion current LCU | -1046.6% |
| 1971 | 1.82 billion current LCU | +66.0% |
| 1972 | 1.73 billion current LCU | -5.3% |
| 1973 | 1.72 billion current LCU | -0.6% |
| 1974 | -1.62 billion current LCU | -194.7% |
| 1975 | 3.15 billion current LCU | -293.7% |
| 1976 | -1.57 billion current LCU | -150.0% |
| 1977 | 649.30 million current LCU | -141.3% |
| 1978 | 4.98 billion current LCU | +667.3% |
| 1979 | 3.12 billion current LCU | -37.3% |
| 1980 | -5.57 billion current LCU | -278.2% |
| 1981 | -6.28 billion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1982 | -13.75 billion current LCU | +118.9% |
| 1983 | -735.20 million current LCU | -94.7% |
| 1984 | 2.88 billion current LCU | -491.8% |
| 1985 | -392.00 million current LCU | -113.6% |
| 1986 | 2.13 billion current LCU | -642.9% |
| 1987 | -6.45 billion current LCU | -403.1% |
| 1988 | -3.49 billion current LCU | -45.9% |
| 1989 | -4.12 billion current LCU | +18.1% |
| 1990 | -6.36 billion current LCU | +54.2% |
| 1991 | -1.36 billion current LCU | -78.7% |
| 1992 | 10.40 billion current LCU | -867.4% |
| 1993 | 21.64 billion current LCU | +108.1% |
| 1994 | 20.52 billion current LCU | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 23.64 billion current LCU | +15.2% |
| 1996 | 26.60 billion current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1997 | 44.59 billion current LCU | +67.6% |
| 1998 | 41.52 billion current LCU | -6.9% |
| 1999 | 38.27 billion current LCU | -7.8% |
| 2000 | 25.49 billion current LCU | -33.4% |
| 2001 | 30.11 billion current LCU | +18.1% |
| 2002 | 36.76 billion current LCU | +22.1% |
| 2003 | 27.17 billion current LCU | -26.1% |
| 2004 | 22.50 billion current LCU | -17.2% |
| 2005 | 8.89 billion current LCU | -60.5% |
| 2006 | -250.70 million current LCU | -102.8% |
| 2007 | -8.44 billion current LCU | +3266.3% |
| 2008 | -15.56 billion current LCU | +84.3% |
| 2009 | -8.46 billion current LCU | -45.6% |
| 2010 | -18.65 billion current LCU | +120.4% |
| 2011 | -31.51 billion current LCU | +68.9% |
| 2012 | -19.79 billion current LCU | -37.2% |
| 2013 | -13.50 billion current LCU | -31.8% |
| 2014 | -15.41 billion current LCU | +14.2% |
| 2015 | -2.59 billion current LCU | -83.2% |
| 2016 | -7.73 billion current LCU | +198.3% |
| 2017 | -17.70 billion current LCU | +128.9% |
| 2018 | -22.76 billion current LCU | +28.6% |
| 2019 | -15.81 billion current LCU | -30.6% |
| 2020 | -39.98 billion current LCU | +152.9% |
| 2021 | -30.41 billion current LCU | -23.9% |
| 2022 | -72.48 billion current LCU | +138.4% |
| 2023 | -48.44 billion current LCU | -33.2% |
| 2024 | -9.60 billion current LCU | -80.2% |
| 2025 | -12.12 billion current LCU | +26.3% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's -12.12 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.18 billion current LCU. (72 countries reporting)
- France's -12.12 billion current LCU is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 96.00 million current LCU. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in France 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | -3266.3% | -250.70 million current LCU | -8.44 billion current LCU |
| 1970 | +1046.6% | -116.10 million current LCU | 1.10 billion current LCU |
| 1992 | +867.4% | -1.36 billion current LCU | 10.40 billion current LCU |
| 1978 | +667.3% | 649.30 million current LCU | 4.98 billion current LCU |
| 1986 | +642.9% | -392.00 million current LCU | 2.13 billion current LCU |
| 1984 | +491.8% | -735.20 million current LCU | 2.88 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 726.21 million current LCU | -116.10 million current LCU | 1.29 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.51 billion current LCU | -1.62 billion current LCU | 4.98 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.58 billion current LCU | -13.75 billion current LCU | 2.88 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.95 billion current LCU | -6.36 billion current LCU | 44.59 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.82 billion current LCU | -15.56 billion current LCU | 36.76 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -16.54 billion current LCU | -31.51 billion current LCU | -2.59 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -35.50 billion current LCU | -72.48 billion current LCU | -9.60 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 112 Bosnia and Herzegovina -7.42 billion current LCU compare
- 113 El Salvador -8.83 billion current LCU compare
- 114 Greece -11.25 billion current LCU compare
- 116 Sierra Leone -12.37 billion current LCU compare
- 117 Belgium -12.95 billion current LCU compare
- 118 Tunisia -14.03 billion current LCU compare
More economy & growth data for France
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.18 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.34 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0112 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 549.07 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.851 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0082 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 400.93 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 2.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0061 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in France?
- External balance on goods and services in France was -12.12 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 44.59 billion current LCU in 1997.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was -72.48 billion current LCU in 2022.
- How does France rank for external balance on goods and services?
- France ranks 115th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 367.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.