External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Tanzania
Tanzania: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was -2.30 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Tanzania, 1990–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded -2.30 trillion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 39.5% on the previous year and up 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Tanzania peaked at 145.40 billion current LCU in 2002 and was at its lowest, -7.74 trillion current LCU, in 2013.
That places Tanzania 172nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 (current LCU) in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -206.29 billion current LCU | — |
| 1991 | -253.94 billion current LCU | +23.1% |
| 1992 | -368.66 billion current LCU | +45.2% |
| 1993 | -512.91 billion current LCU | +39.1% |
| 1994 | -528.99 billion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 1995 | -526.56 billion current LCU | -0.5% |
| 1996 | -452.36 billion current LCU | -14.1% |
| 1997 | -445.48 billion current LCU | -1.5% |
| 1998 | -480.01 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 1999 | -443.69 billion current LCU | -7.6% |
| 2000 | -252.96 billion current LCU | -43.0% |
| 2001 | -42.37 billion current LCU | -83.3% |
| 2002 | 145.40 billion current LCU | -443.2% |
| 2003 | -41.50 billion current LCU | -128.5% |
| 2004 | -275.77 billion current LCU | +564.5% |
| 2005 | -621.59 billion current LCU | +125.4% |
| 2006 | -1.39 trillion current LCU | +123.0% |
| 2007 | -2.28 trillion current LCU | +64.7% |
| 2008 | -3.38 trillion current LCU | +47.9% |
| 2009 | -2.74 trillion current LCU | -18.8% |
| 2010 | -3.76 trillion current LCU | +37.2% |
| 2011 | -6.96 trillion current LCU | +84.9% |
| 2012 | -6.00 trillion current LCU | -13.8% |
| 2013 | -7.74 trillion current LCU | +29.0% |
| 2014 | -7.61 trillion current LCU | -1.6% |
| 2015 | -6.18 trillion current LCU | -18.9% |
| 2016 | -2.95 trillion current LCU | -52.3% |
| 2017 | -2.12 trillion current LCU | -28.1% |
| 2018 | -4.08 trillion current LCU | +92.6% |
| 2019 | -1.32 trillion current LCU | -67.7% |
| 2020 | -1.45 trillion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2021 | -2.72 trillion current LCU | +87.8% |
| 2022 | -7.29 trillion current LCU | +167.9% |
| 2023 | -7.20 trillion current LCU | -1.2% |
| 2024 | -3.79 trillion current LCU | -47.3% |
| 2025 | -2.30 trillion current LCU | -39.5% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's -2.30 trillion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU, 40.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's -2.30 trillion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 33.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Tanzania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | -564.5% | -41.50 billion current LCU | -275.77 billion current LCU |
| 2002 | +443.2% | -42.37 billion current LCU | 145.40 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -421.89 billion current LCU | -528.99 billion current LCU | -206.29 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.09 trillion current LCU | -3.38 trillion current LCU | 145.40 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -4.87 trillion current LCU | -7.74 trillion current LCU | -1.32 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.12 trillion current LCU | -7.29 trillion current LCU | -1.45 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More economy & growth data for Tanzania
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.67 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -55.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0011 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 1.44 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -54.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 1.05 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0051 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Tanzania?
- External balance on goods and services in Tanzania was -2.30 trillion 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 145.40 billion current LCU in 2002.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.74 trillion current LCU in 2013.
- How does Tanzania rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Tanzania ranks 172nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.