External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was -108.02 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-108.02 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 12.8%
World rank
136th
of 193 countries
All-time high
0.4033 current LCU
in 1979
All-time low
-123.88 billion current LCU
in 2024
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Nicaragua, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded -108.02 billion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.8% on the previous year and down 72.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Nicaragua peaked at 0.4033 current LCU in 1979 and was at its lowest, -123.88 billion current LCU, in 2024.
Nicaragua ranks 136th 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 (current LCU) in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -0.0118 current LCU | — |
| 1961 | -0.0058 current LCU | -50.8% |
| 1962 | -0.0138 current LCU | +136.8% |
| 1963 | -0.0087 current LCU | -36.7% |
| 1964 | -0.0117 current LCU | +33.9% |
| 1965 | -0.0246 current LCU | +111.0% |
| 1966 | -0.0595 current LCU | +141.5% |
| 1967 | -0.079 current LCU | +32.7% |
| 1968 | -0.0361 current LCU | -54.3% |
| 1969 | -0.0293 current LCU | -19.0% |
| 1970 | -0.0267 current LCU | -8.6% |
| 1971 | -0.0259 current LCU | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 0.0696 current LCU | -368.7% |
| 1973 | -0.1469 current LCU | -310.9% |
| 1974 | -0.2881 current LCU | +96.2% |
| 1975 | -0.1981 current LCU | -31.2% |
| 1976 | 0.0298 current LCU | -115.1% |
| 1977 | -0.1673 current LCU | -661.0% |
| 1978 | 0.0948 current LCU | -156.7% |
| 1979 | 0.4033 current LCU | +325.5% |
| 1980 | -0.792 current LCU | -296.4% |
| 1981 | -0.9517 current LCU | +20.2% |
| 1982 | -0.5713 current LCU | -40.0% |
| 1983 | -0.6974 current LCU | +22.1% |
| 1984 | -1.17 current LCU | +68.0% |
| 1985 | -1.63 current LCU | +39.1% |
| 1986 | -7.02 current LCU | +330.8% |
| 1987 | -10.73 current LCU | +52.8% |
| 1988 | -26,077 current LCU | +242981.5% |
| 1989 | -999,200 current LCU | +3731.7% |
| 1990 | -33.47 million current LCU | +3250.1% |
| 1991 | -2.22 billion current LCU | +6518.8% |
| 1992 | -3.23 billion current LCU | +45.7% |
| 1993 | -2.95 billion current LCU | -8.7% |
| 1994 | -3.32 billion current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1995 | -3.69 billion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1996 | -5.37 billion current LCU | +45.5% |
| 1997 | -7.95 billion current LCU | +47.9% |
| 1998 | -9.00 billion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 1999 | -14.61 billion current LCU | +62.4% |
| 2000 | -13.66 billion current LCU | -6.5% |
| 2001 | -14.24 billion current LCU | +4.2% |
| 2002 | -15.18 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2003 | -16.69 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 2004 | -19.46 billion current LCU | +16.6% |
| 2005 | -24.20 billion current LCU | +24.4% |
| 2006 | -29.44 billion current LCU | +21.7% |
| 2007 | -36.84 billion current LCU | +25.1% |
| 2008 | -45.85 billion current LCU | +24.5% |
| 2009 | -32.12 billion current LCU | -29.9% |
| 2010 | -36.34 billion current LCU | +13.1% |
| 2011 | -47.77 billion current LCU | +31.4% |
| 2012 | -50.19 billion current LCU | +5.1% |
| 2013 | -55.81 billion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 2014 | -51.45 billion current LCU | -7.8% |
| 2015 | -62.68 billion current LCU | +21.8% |
| 2016 | -61.03 billion current LCU | -2.6% |
| 2017 | -56.77 billion current LCU | -7.0% |
| 2018 | -38.76 billion current LCU | -31.7% |
| 2019 | -18.65 billion current LCU | -51.9% |
| 2020 | -22.49 billion current LCU | +20.6% |
| 2021 | -66.96 billion current LCU | +197.7% |
| 2022 | -87.85 billion current LCU | +31.2% |
| 2023 | -86.22 billion current LCU | -1.9% |
| 2024 | -123.88 billion current LCU | +43.7% |
| 2025 | -108.02 billion current LCU | -12.8% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's -108.02 billion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU, 1.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's -108.02 billion current LCU is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is -509.00 million current LCU, 212.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Nicaragua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -242981.5% | -10.73 current LCU | -26,077 current LCU |
| 1991 | -6518.8% | -33.47 million current LCU | -2.22 billion current LCU |
| 1989 | -3731.7% | -26,077 current LCU | -999,200 current LCU |
| 1990 | -3250.1% | -999,200 current LCU | -33.47 million current LCU |
| 1977 | -661.0% | 0.0298 current LCU | -0.1673 current LCU |
| 1972 | +368.7% | -0.0259 current LCU | 0.0696 current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.028 current LCU | -0.079 current LCU | -0.0058 current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.0256 current LCU | -0.2881 current LCU | 0.4033 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -102,530 current LCU | -999,200 current LCU | -0.5713 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -5.24 billion current LCU | -14.61 billion current LCU | -33.47 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -24.77 billion current LCU | -45.85 billion current LCU | -13.66 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -47.94 billion current LCU | -62.68 billion current LCU | -18.65 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -82.57 billion current LCU | -123.88 billion current LCU | -22.49 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More economy & growth data for Nicaragua
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0168 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 53.46 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.8097 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0123 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 39.04 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -11.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.014 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Nicaragua?
- External balance on goods and services in Nicaragua was -108.02 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4033 current LCU in 1979.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was -123.88 billion current LCU in 2024.
- How does Nicaragua rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Nicaragua ranks 136th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 72.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.