External balance on goods and services in Ireland
Ireland: External balance on goods and services was 256.59 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Ireland, 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 Ireland is 256.59 billion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.1% on the previous year and up 217.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Ireland peaked at 256.59 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, -2.32 billion current LCU, in 1981.
Ireland ranks 29th 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -191.71 million current LCU | — |
| 1971 | -201.00 million current LCU | +4.8% |
| 1972 | -184.93 million current LCU | -8.0% |
| 1973 | -279.06 million current LCU | +50.9% |
| 1974 | -620.23 million current LCU | +122.3% |
| 1975 | -359.44 million current LCU | -42.0% |
| 1976 | -562.35 million current LCU | +56.5% |
| 1977 | -783.25 million current LCU | +39.3% |
| 1978 | -1.00 billion current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1979 | -1.85 billion current LCU | +85.0% |
| 1980 | -1.82 billion current LCU | -1.4% |
| 1981 | -2.32 billion current LCU | +27.1% |
| 1982 | -1.52 billion current LCU | -34.6% |
| 1983 | -812.17 million current LCU | -46.5% |
| 1984 | -396.87 million current LCU | -51.1% |
| 1985 | 80.28 million current LCU | -120.2% |
| 1986 | 290.67 million current LCU | +262.1% |
| 1987 | 1.20 billion current LCU | +312.3% |
| 1988 | 1.88 billion current LCU | +56.7% |
| 1989 | 1.90 billion current LCU | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 1.66 billion current LCU | -12.5% |
| 1991 | 1.86 billion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 1992 | 3.03 billion current LCU | +63.4% |
| 1993 | 4.57 billion current LCU | +50.6% |
| 1994 | 4.57 billion current LCU | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 5.99 billion current LCU | +31.0% |
| 1996 | 6.58 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 1997 | 8.31 billion current LCU | +26.3% |
| 1998 | 8.75 billion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 12.11 billion current LCU | +38.4% |
| 2000 | 15.00 billion current LCU | +23.9% |
| 2001 | 19.06 billion current LCU | +27.0% |
| 2002 | 23.36 billion current LCU | +22.6% |
| 2003 | 22.05 billion current LCU | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 22.44 billion current LCU | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 18.53 billion current LCU | -17.4% |
| 2006 | 14.88 billion current LCU | -19.7% |
| 2007 | 16.31 billion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 16.16 billion current LCU | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 22.92 billion current LCU | +41.9% |
| 2010 | 27.72 billion current LCU | +20.9% |
| 2011 | 32.06 billion current LCU | +15.6% |
| 2012 | 30.53 billion current LCU | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 36.13 billion current LCU | +18.3% |
| 2014 | 38.14 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 80.79 billion current LCU | +111.8% |
| 2016 | 51.46 billion current LCU | -36.3% |
| 2017 | 73.05 billion current LCU | +42.0% |
| 2018 | 98.81 billion current LCU | +35.3% |
| 2019 | 17.45 billion current LCU | -82.3% |
| 2020 | 79.56 billion current LCU | +356.1% |
| 2021 | 187.28 billion current LCU | +135.4% |
| 2022 | 214.83 billion current LCU | +14.7% |
| 2023 | 175.28 billion current LCU | -18.4% |
| 2024 | 235.24 billion current LCU | +34.2% |
| 2025 | 256.59 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 256.59 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.18 billion current LCU, 80.7× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 256.59 billion current LCU is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 96.00 million current LCU, 2672.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +356.1% | 17.45 billion current LCU | 79.56 billion current LCU |
| 1987 | +312.3% | 290.67 million current LCU | 1.20 billion current LCU |
| 1986 | +262.1% | 80.28 million current LCU | 290.67 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -603.21 million current LCU | -1.85 billion current LCU | -184.93 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -152.72 million current LCU | -2.32 billion current LCU | 1.90 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.74 billion current LCU | 1.66 billion current LCU | 12.11 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.07 billion current LCU | 14.88 billion current LCU | 23.36 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.61 billion current LCU | 17.45 billion current LCU | 98.81 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 191.46 billion current LCU | 79.56 billion current LCU | 256.59 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 67.14 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1102 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 12,444 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 103.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0079 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 893.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 7.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Ireland?
- External balance on goods and services in Ireland was 256.59 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 256.59 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.32 billion current LCU in 1981.
- How does Ireland rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Ireland ranks 29th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 217.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.