External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was -38.41 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded -38.41 billion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of down 82.8% on the previous year and down 45.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in United Kingdom peaked at 15.67 billion current LCU in 2020 and was at its lowest, -38.41 billion current LCU, in 2025.
United Kingdom ranks 125th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 580.80 million current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 966.42 million current LCU | +66.4% |
| 1972 | 79.61 million current LCU | -91.8% |
| 1973 | -1.64 billion current LCU | -2155.5% |
| 1974 | -4.00 billion current LCU | +144.6% |
| 1975 | -1.56 billion current LCU | -61.1% |
| 1976 | -1.05 billion current LCU | -32.5% |
| 1977 | 1.56 billion current LCU | -248.4% |
| 1978 | 2.85 billion current LCU | +83.2% |
| 1979 | 1.39 billion current LCU | -51.2% |
| 1980 | 6.03 billion current LCU | +333.1% |
| 1981 | 8.38 billion current LCU | +39.0% |
| 1982 | 6.46 billion current LCU | -22.9% |
| 1983 | 4.05 billion current LCU | -37.3% |
| 1984 | 876.68 million current LCU | -78.3% |
| 1985 | 5.42 billion current LCU | +518.7% |
| 1986 | -1.31 billion current LCU | -124.1% |
| 1987 | -3.00 billion current LCU | +129.8% |
| 1988 | -15.45 billion current LCU | +414.7% |
| 1989 | -19.23 billion current LCU | +24.5% |
| 1990 | -9.79 billion current LCU | -49.1% |
| 1991 | -807.06 million current LCU | -91.8% |
| 1992 | -3.08 billion current LCU | +282.2% |
| 1993 | -596.86 million current LCU | -80.6% |
| 1994 | 2.01 billion current LCU | -436.7% |
| 1995 | 4.82 billion current LCU | +139.7% |
| 1996 | 4.36 billion current LCU | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 5.11 billion current LCU | +17.4% |
| 1998 | -5.00 billion current LCU | -197.7% |
| 1999 | -10.96 billion current LCU | +119.5% |
| 2000 | -13.54 billion current LCU | +23.5% |
| 2001 | -19.97 billion current LCU | +47.5% |
| 2002 | -28.35 billion current LCU | +42.0% |
| 2003 | -26.90 billion current LCU | -5.1% |
| 2004 | -30.78 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 2005 | -29.89 billion current LCU | -2.9% |
| 2006 | -27.77 billion current LCU | -7.1% |
| 2007 | -30.00 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 2008 | -26.88 billion current LCU | -10.4% |
| 2009 | -19.32 billion current LCU | -28.1% |
| 2010 | -25.18 billion current LCU | +30.3% |
| 2011 | -13.26 billion current LCU | -47.3% |
| 2012 | -16.70 billion current LCU | +25.9% |
| 2013 | -23.34 billion current LCU | +39.8% |
| 2014 | -32.95 billion current LCU | +41.2% |
| 2015 | -26.35 billion current LCU | -20.0% |
| 2016 | -34.41 billion current LCU | +30.6% |
| 2017 | -26.05 billion current LCU | -24.3% |
| 2018 | -26.07 billion current LCU | +0.1% |
| 2019 | -26.99 billion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 15.67 billion current LCU | -158.1% |
| 2021 | 939.00 million current LCU | -94.0% |
| 2022 | -27.75 billion current LCU | -3055.0% |
| 2023 | -32.14 billion current LCU | +15.8% |
| 2024 | -21.01 billion current LCU | -34.6% |
| 2025 | -38.41 billion current LCU | +82.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -38.41 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.18 billion current LCU. (72 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -38.41 billion current LCU is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 96.00 million current LCU. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -3055.0% | 939.00 million current LCU | -27.75 billion current LCU |
| 1973 | -2155.5% | 79.61 million current LCU | -1.64 billion current LCU |
| 1985 | +518.7% | 876.68 million current LCU | 5.42 billion current LCU |
| 1994 | +436.7% | -596.86 million current LCU | 2.01 billion current LCU |
| 1988 | -414.7% | -3.00 billion current LCU | -15.45 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -81.44 million current LCU | -4.00 billion current LCU | 2.85 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -776.12 million current LCU | -19.23 billion current LCU | 8.38 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.39 billion current LCU | -10.96 billion current LCU | 5.11 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -25.34 billion current LCU | -30.78 billion current LCU | -13.54 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -25.13 billion current LCU | -34.41 billion current LCU | -13.26 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -17.12 billion current LCU | -38.41 billion current LCU | 15.67 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % 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 United Kingdom?
- External balance on goods and services in United Kingdom was -38.41 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 15.67 billion current LCU in 2020.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -38.41 billion current LCU in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom rank for external balance on goods and services?
- United Kingdom ranks 125th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.