External balance on goods and services in Germany
Germany: External balance on goods and services was 105.34 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
105.34 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 35.6%
World rank
38th
of 193 countries
All-time high
232.13 billion current LCU
in 2016
All-time low
-40.86 billion current LCU
in 1980
Years of data
56
1970–2025
External balance on goods and services in Germany, 1970–2025
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 Germany is 105.34 billion current LCU, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 35.6% on the previous year and down 54.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Germany peaked at 232.13 billion current LCU in 2016 and was at its lowest, -40.86 billion current LCU, in 1980.
Germany ranks 38th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Germany, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -5.92 billion current LCU | — |
| 1971 | -7.78 billion current LCU | +31.4% |
| 1972 | -8.00 billion current LCU | +2.9% |
| 1973 | -5.47 billion current LCU | -31.7% |
| 1974 | -2.90 billion current LCU | -46.9% |
| 1975 | -10.48 billion current LCU | +261.2% |
| 1976 | -14.99 billion current LCU | +43.0% |
| 1977 | -15.38 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 1978 | -14.61 billion current LCU | -5.1% |
| 1979 | -29.64 billion current LCU | +103.0% |
| 1980 | -40.86 billion current LCU | +37.8% |
| 1981 | -36.34 billion current LCU | -11.1% |
| 1982 | -25.67 billion current LCU | -29.4% |
| 1983 | -30.27 billion current LCU | +17.9% |
| 1984 | -29.63 billion current LCU | -2.1% |
| 1985 | -22.66 billion current LCU | -23.5% |
| 1986 | -4.49 billion current LCU | -80.2% |
| 1987 | -4.04 billion current LCU | -9.9% |
| 1988 | -4.56 billion current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1989 | -8.52 billion current LCU | +87.0% |
| 1990 | -3.06 billion current LCU | -64.1% |
| 1991 | -8.01 billion current LCU | +162.1% |
| 1992 | -8.63 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 152.00 million current LCU | -101.8% |
| 1994 | 2.13 billion current LCU | +1298.7% |
| 1995 | 6.78 billion current LCU | +219.0% |
| 1996 | 12.74 billion current LCU | +87.9% |
| 1997 | 20.11 billion current LCU | +57.8% |
| 1998 | 23.56 billion current LCU | +17.1% |
| 1999 | 11.23 billion current LCU | -52.3% |
| 2000 | 3.53 billion current LCU | -68.6% |
| 2001 | 34.28 billion current LCU | +871.5% |
| 2002 | 90.01 billion current LCU | +162.5% |
| 2003 | 81.14 billion current LCU | -9.9% |
| 2004 | 113.83 billion current LCU | +40.3% |
| 2005 | 115.20 billion current LCU | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 125.67 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 162.44 billion current LCU | +29.3% |
| 2008 | 149.78 billion current LCU | -7.8% |
| 2009 | 118.96 billion current LCU | -20.6% |
| 2010 | 133.52 billion current LCU | +12.2% |
| 2011 | 133.34 billion current LCU | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 169.06 billion current LCU | +26.8% |
| 2013 | 165.53 billion current LCU | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 195.15 billion current LCU | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 228.88 billion current LCU | +17.3% |
| 2016 | 232.13 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 231.69 billion current LCU | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 201.53 billion current LCU | -13.0% |
| 2019 | 198.34 billion current LCU | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 183.10 billion current LCU | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 188.54 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 98.58 billion current LCU | -47.7% |
| 2023 | 167.59 billion current LCU | +70.0% |
| 2024 | 163.52 billion current LCU | -2.4% |
| 2025 | 105.34 billion current LCU | -35.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 105.34 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.18 billion current LCU, 33.1× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Germany's 105.34 billion current LCU is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 96.00 million current LCU, 1097.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Germany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +1298.7% | 152.00 million current LCU | 2.13 billion current LCU |
| 2001 | +871.5% | 3.53 billion current LCU | 34.28 billion current LCU |
| 1975 | -261.2% | -2.90 billion current LCU | -10.48 billion current LCU |
| 1995 | +219.0% | 2.13 billion current LCU | 6.78 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -11.52 billion current LCU | -29.64 billion current LCU | -2.90 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -20.70 billion current LCU | -40.86 billion current LCU | -4.04 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.70 billion current LCU | -8.63 billion current LCU | 23.56 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 99.48 billion current LCU | 3.53 billion current LCU | 162.44 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 188.92 billion current LCU | 133.34 billion current LCU | 232.13 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 151.11 billion current LCU | 98.58 billion current LCU | 188.54 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More economy & growth data for Germany
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.7761 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.6565 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0214 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,295 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 95.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 51.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0188 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,140 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 51.4 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Germany?
- External balance on goods and services in Germany was 105.34 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 232.13 billion current LCU in 2016.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was -40.86 billion current LCU in 1980.
- How does Germany rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Germany ranks 38th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.