External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in United States
United States: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was -898.46 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in United States, 1970–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
United States recorded -898.46 billion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2024.
That represents a change of down 14.2% on the previous year and down 76.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in United States peaked at 15.98 billion current LCU in 1975 and was at its lowest, -937.89 billion current LCU, in 2022.
United States ranks 163rd 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 (current LCU) in United States, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.95 billion current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 621.00 million current LCU | -84.3% |
| 1972 | -3.37 billion current LCU | -643.2% |
| 1973 | 4.11 billion current LCU | -221.8% |
| 1974 | -815.00 million current LCU | -119.8% |
| 1975 | 15.98 billion current LCU | -2060.2% |
| 1976 | -1.63 billion current LCU | -110.2% |
| 1977 | -23.09 billion current LCU | +1315.9% |
| 1978 | -25.37 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1979 | -22.55 billion current LCU | -11.1% |
| 1980 | -13.06 billion current LCU | -42.1% |
| 1981 | -12.52 billion current LCU | -4.1% |
| 1982 | -19.97 billion current LCU | +59.5% |
| 1983 | -51.64 billion current LCU | +158.5% |
| 1984 | -102.73 billion current LCU | +98.9% |
| 1985 | -114.02 billion current LCU | +11.0% |
| 1986 | -131.87 billion current LCU | +15.7% |
| 1987 | -144.77 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1988 | -109.39 billion current LCU | -24.4% |
| 1989 | -86.74 billion current LCU | -20.7% |
| 1990 | -77.86 billion current LCU | -10.2% |
| 1991 | -28.61 billion current LCU | -63.2% |
| 1992 | -34.74 billion current LCU | +21.4% |
| 1993 | -65.17 billion current LCU | +87.6% |
| 1994 | -92.49 billion current LCU | +41.9% |
| 1995 | -89.76 billion current LCU | -2.9% |
| 1996 | -96.38 billion current LCU | +7.4% |
| 1997 | -101.97 billion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 1998 | -162.71 billion current LCU | +59.6% |
| 1999 | -259.55 billion current LCU | +59.5% |
| 2000 | -381.07 billion current LCU | +46.8% |
| 2001 | -376.75 billion current LCU | -1.1% |
| 2002 | -439.75 billion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 2003 | -521.96 billion current LCU | +18.7% |
| 2004 | -634.14 billion current LCU | +21.5% |
| 2005 | -739.90 billion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 2006 | -786.45 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2007 | -735.93 billion current LCU | -6.4% |
| 2008 | -740.87 billion current LCU | +0.7% |
| 2009 | -419.15 billion current LCU | -43.4% |
| 2010 | -532.31 billion current LCU | +27.0% |
| 2011 | -579.62 billion current LCU | +8.9% |
| 2012 | -551.62 billion current LCU | -4.8% |
| 2013 | -478.45 billion current LCU | -13.3% |
| 2014 | -508.90 billion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2015 | -524.32 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 2016 | -503.27 billion current LCU | -4.0% |
| 2017 | -543.33 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 2018 | -593.08 billion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 2019 | -577.29 billion current LCU | -2.7% |
| 2020 | -618.55 billion current LCU | +7.1% |
| 2021 | -849.23 billion current LCU | +37.3% |
| 2022 | -937.89 billion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 2023 | -786.50 billion current LCU | -16.1% |
| 2024 | -898.46 billion current LCU | +14.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's -898.46 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.18 billion current LCU. (72 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +2060.2% | -815.00 million current LCU | 15.98 billion current LCU |
| 1977 | -1315.9% | -1.63 billion current LCU | -23.09 billion current LCU |
| 1972 | -643.2% | 621.00 million current LCU | -3.37 billion current LCU |
| 1973 | +221.8% | -3.37 billion current LCU | 4.11 billion current LCU |
| 1983 | -158.5% | -19.97 billion current LCU | -51.64 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -5.22 billion current LCU | -25.37 billion current LCU | 15.98 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -78.67 billion current LCU | -144.77 billion current LCU | -12.52 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -100.92 billion current LCU | -259.55 billion current LCU | -28.61 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -577.60 billion current LCU | -786.45 billion current LCU | -376.75 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -539.22 billion current LCU | -593.08 billion current LCU | -478.45 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -818.13 billion current LCU | -937.89 billion current LCU | -618.55 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 160 Afghanistan -660.71 billion current LCU compare
- 161 Kyrgyzstan -766.53 billion current LCU compare
- 162 Mali -808.18 billion current LCU compare
- 164 Ethiopia -1.04 trillion current LCU compare
- 165 Kenya -1.05 trillion current LCU compare
- 166 Democratic Republic of Congo -1.22 trillion current LCU compare
More economy & growth data for United States
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0057 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 509.07 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.7205 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0041 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 371.72 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 0.9623 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0027 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in United States?
- External balance on goods and services in United States was -898.46 billion 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 15.98 billion current LCU in 1975.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -937.89 billion current LCU in 2022.
- How does United States rank for external balance on goods and services?
- United States ranks 163rd out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.