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

Latest (2024)
-898.46 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 14.2%
World rank
163rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
15.98 billion current LCU
in 1975
All-time low
-937.89 billion current LCU
in 2022
Years of data
55
1970–2024

External balance on goods and services in United States, 1970–2024

-1.0T-800.0B-600.0B-400.0B-200.0B0197019972024

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

Annual values for External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in United States, 1970 to 2024.
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.

YearChange FromTo
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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 160 Afghanistan -660.71 billion current LCU compare
  2. 161 Kyrgyzstan -766.53 billion current LCU compare
  3. 162 Mali -808.18 billion current LCU compare
  4. 164 Ethiopia -1.04 trillion current LCU compare
  5. 165 Kenya -1.05 trillion current LCU compare
  6. 166 Democratic Republic of Congo -1.22 trillion current LCU compare

See the full ranking of 193 places →

More economy & growth data for United States

All data for United States →

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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External balance on goods and services in United States. Statizoid, drawing on Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Retrieved 24 October 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/external-balance-on-goods-and-services-current-lcu/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
External balance on goods and services (current LCU)
Unit
current LCU
Source
Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
193 places, 9,072 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.