External balance on goods and services in Namibia
Namibia: External balance on goods and services was -51.87 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Namibia, 1980–2025
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 Namibia stood at -51.87 billion current LCU.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.8% on the previous year and down 34.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Namibia peaked at 2.11 billion current LCU in 2006 and was at its lowest, -64.68 billion current LCU, in 2024.
Namibia ranks 129th of 193 countries on this measure, 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 in Namibia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 266.22 million current LCU | — |
| 1981 | -225.05 million current LCU | -184.5% |
| 1982 | -197.18 million current LCU | -12.4% |
| 1983 | -194.69 million current LCU | -1.3% |
| 1984 | -177.84 million current LCU | -8.7% |
| 1985 | 412.23 million current LCU | -331.8% |
| 1986 | 427.13 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 1987 | -229.84 million current LCU | -153.8% |
| 1988 | 85.28 million current LCU | -137.1% |
| 1989 | 223.38 million current LCU | +161.9% |
| 1990 | -479.18 million current LCU | -314.5% |
| 1991 | -485.80 million current LCU | +1.4% |
| 1992 | -581.35 million current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1993 | -306.86 million current LCU | -47.2% |
| 1994 | -166.97 million current LCU | -45.6% |
| 1995 | -603.67 million current LCU | +261.5% |
| 1996 | -983.59 million current LCU | +62.9% |
| 1997 | -1.45 billion current LCU | +46.9% |
| 1998 | -2.01 billion current LCU | +39.1% |
| 1999 | -1.95 billion current LCU | -3.1% |
| 2000 | -996.22 million current LCU | -48.8% |
| 2001 | -1.98 billion current LCU | +99.0% |
| 2002 | -733.39 million current LCU | -63.0% |
| 2003 | -3.39 billion current LCU | +362.1% |
| 2004 | -967.60 million current LCU | -71.4% |
| 2005 | 63.22 million current LCU | -106.5% |
| 2006 | 2.11 billion current LCU | +3240.1% |
| 2007 | -3.29 billion current LCU | -255.6% |
| 2008 | -8.76 billion current LCU | +166.7% |
| 2009 | -15.72 billion current LCU | +79.4% |
| 2010 | -9.64 billion current LCU | -38.7% |
| 2011 | -10.16 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2012 | -21.48 billion current LCU | +111.5% |
| 2013 | -26.68 billion current LCU | +24.2% |
| 2014 | -33.77 billion current LCU | +26.6% |
| 2015 | -38.69 billion current LCU | +14.6% |
| 2016 | -37.77 billion current LCU | -2.4% |
| 2017 | -23.98 billion current LCU | -36.5% |
| 2018 | -18.01 billion current LCU | -24.9% |
| 2019 | -18.30 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 2020 | -16.67 billion current LCU | -8.9% |
| 2021 | -35.98 billion current LCU | +115.8% |
| 2022 | -37.72 billion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 2023 | -53.70 billion current LCU | +42.4% |
| 2024 | -64.68 billion current LCU | +20.5% |
| 2025 | -51.87 billion current LCU | -19.8% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's -51.87 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU, 91% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Namibia's -51.87 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 76% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Namibia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +3240.1% | 63.22 million current LCU | 2.11 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 38.96 million current LCU | -229.84 million current LCU | 427.13 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -901.08 million current LCU | -2.01 billion current LCU | -166.97 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -3.37 billion current LCU | -15.72 billion current LCU | 2.11 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -23.85 billion current LCU | -38.69 billion current LCU | -9.64 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -43.44 billion current LCU | -64.68 billion current LCU | -16.67 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More economy & growth data for Namibia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.64 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 44.40 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0033 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.65 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -15.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1418 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 638.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -7.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Namibia?
- External balance on goods and services in Namibia was -51.87 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.11 billion current LCU in 2006.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was -64.68 billion current LCU in 2024.
- How does Namibia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Namibia ranks 129th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.