External balance on goods and services in Japan
Japan: External balance on goods and services was -5.66 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-5.66 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 37.7%
World rank
180th
of 193 countries
All-time high
12.87 trillion current LCU
in 1986
All-time low
-20.85 trillion current LCU
in 2022
Years of data
55
1970–2024
External balance on goods and services in Japan, 1970–2024
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 Japan is -5.66 trillion current LCU, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 37.7% on the previous year and up 57.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Japan peaked at 12.87 trillion current LCU in 1986 and was at its lowest, -20.85 trillion current LCU, in 2022.
Japan ranks 180th 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 883.49 billion current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 2.14 trillion current LCU | +142.1% |
| 1972 | 2.07 trillion current LCU | -3.1% |
| 1973 | -62.85 billion current LCU | -103.0% |
| 1974 | -1.16 trillion current LCU | +1744.0% |
| 1975 | -93.92 billion current LCU | -91.9% |
| 1976 | 1.16 trillion current LCU | -1335.2% |
| 1977 | 2.87 trillion current LCU | +147.0% |
| 1978 | 3.40 trillion current LCU | +18.6% |
| 1979 | -2.23 trillion current LCU | -165.6% |
| 1980 | -2.44 trillion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 1981 | 1.65 trillion current LCU | -167.6% |
| 1982 | 1.55 trillion current LCU | -6.0% |
| 1983 | 4.53 trillion current LCU | +192.5% |
| 1984 | 7.66 trillion current LCU | +69.0% |
| 1985 | 10.65 trillion current LCU | +39.0% |
| 1986 | 12.87 trillion current LCU | +20.9% |
| 1987 | 10.14 trillion current LCU | -21.2% |
| 1988 | 7.73 trillion current LCU | -23.8% |
| 1989 | 5.70 trillion current LCU | -26.3% |
| 1990 | 3.53 trillion current LCU | -38.1% |
| 1991 | 7.24 trillion current LCU | +105.2% |
| 1992 | 10.18 trillion current LCU | +40.6% |
| 1993 | 10.62 trillion current LCU | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 9.55 trillion current LCU | -10.0% |
| 1995 | 6.48 trillion current LCU | -32.1% |
| 1996 | 2.02 trillion current LCU | -68.8% |
| 1997 | 5.35 trillion current LCU | +164.4% |
| 1998 | 9.36 trillion current LCU | +75.0% |
| 1999 | 7.84 trillion current LCU | -16.2% |
| 2000 | 7.31 trillion current LCU | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 3.16 trillion current LCU | -56.8% |
| 2002 | 6.63 trillion current LCU | +109.9% |
| 2003 | 8.41 trillion current LCU | +26.9% |
| 2004 | 10.10 trillion current LCU | +20.1% |
| 2005 | 7.46 trillion current LCU | -26.2% |
| 2006 | 6.94 trillion current LCU | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 9.49 trillion current LCU | +36.8% |
| 2008 | 1.79 trillion current LCU | -81.1% |
| 2009 | 2.22 trillion current LCU | +23.6% |
| 2010 | 6.76 trillion current LCU | +205.0% |
| 2011 | -3.22 trillion current LCU | -147.6% |
| 2012 | -8.22 trillion current LCU | +155.4% |
| 2013 | -12.27 trillion current LCU | +49.2% |
| 2014 | -13.46 trillion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2015 | -2.98 trillion current LCU | -77.8% |
| 2016 | 4.38 trillion current LCU | -247.0% |
| 2017 | 4.20 trillion current LCU | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 106.50 billion current LCU | -97.5% |
| 2019 | -1.62 trillion current LCU | -1617.9% |
| 2020 | -1.45 trillion current LCU | -10.3% |
| 2021 | -2.88 trillion current LCU | +98.2% |
| 2022 | -20.85 trillion current LCU | +625.0% |
| 2023 | -9.10 trillion current LCU | -56.4% |
| 2024 | -5.66 trillion current LCU | -37.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's -5.66 trillion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.18 billion current LCU. (72 countries reporting)
- Japan's -5.66 trillion current LCU is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -190.00 million current LCU, 29812.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | -1744.0% | -62.85 billion current LCU | -1.16 trillion current LCU |
| 2019 | -1617.9% | 106.50 billion current LCU | -1.62 trillion current LCU |
| 1976 | +1335.2% | -93.92 billion current LCU | 1.16 trillion current LCU |
| 2022 | -625.0% | -2.88 trillion current LCU | -20.85 trillion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 897.22 billion current LCU | -2.23 trillion current LCU | 3.40 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.00 trillion current LCU | -2.44 trillion current LCU | 12.87 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.22 trillion current LCU | 2.02 trillion current LCU | 10.62 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.35 trillion current LCU | 1.79 trillion current LCU | 10.10 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.63 trillion current LCU | -13.46 trillion current LCU | 6.76 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -7.99 trillion current LCU | -20.85 trillion current LCU | -1.45 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More economy & growth data for Japan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.4463 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0491 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,765 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.81 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 142.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0103 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 371.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 11.44 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Japan?
- External balance on goods and services in Japan was -5.66 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.87 trillion current LCU in 1986.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -20.85 trillion current LCU in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Japan ranks 180th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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
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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.