External balance on goods and services in Benin
Benin: External balance on goods and services was -739.95 million current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-739.95 million current US$
Change on year
down 16.4%
World rank
110th
of 193 countries
All-time high
-11.67 million current US$
in 1961
All-time low
-1.10 billion current US$
in 2021
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Benin, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Benin recorded -739.95 million current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.4% on the previous year and up 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Benin peaked at -11.67 million current US$ in 1961 and was at its lowest, -1.10 billion current US$, in 2021.
Benin ranks 110th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Benin, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -13.54 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | -11.67 million current US$ | -13.8% |
| 1962 | -15.23 million current US$ | +30.5% |
| 1963 | -19.82 million current US$ | +30.1% |
| 1964 | -19.17 million current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1965 | -22.14 million current US$ | +15.5% |
| 1966 | -28.32 million current US$ | +27.9% |
| 1967 | -37.07 million current US$ | +30.9% |
| 1968 | -31.79 million current US$ | -14.2% |
| 1969 | -31.93 million current US$ | +0.5% |
| 1970 | -30.98 million current US$ | -3.0% |
| 1971 | -33.66 million current US$ | +8.7% |
| 1972 | -50.95 million current US$ | +51.3% |
| 1973 | -51.89 million current US$ | +1.9% |
| 1974 | -84.18 million current US$ | +62.2% |
| 1975 | -127.83 million current US$ | +51.8% |
| 1976 | -125.97 million current US$ | -1.4% |
| 1977 | -139.52 million current US$ | +10.8% |
| 1978 | -167.38 million current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1979 | -231.38 million current US$ | +38.2% |
| 1980 | -302.21 million current US$ | +30.6% |
| 1981 | -361.88 million current US$ | +19.7% |
| 1982 | -282.91 million current US$ | -21.8% |
| 1983 | -195.12 million current US$ | -31.0% |
| 1984 | -119.33 million current US$ | -38.8% |
| 1985 | -135.90 million current US$ | +13.9% |
| 1986 | -212.97 million current US$ | +56.7% |
| 1987 | -245.03 million current US$ | +15.1% |
| 1988 | -296.17 million current US$ | +20.9% |
| 1989 | -169.90 million current US$ | -42.6% |
| 1990 | -144.21 million current US$ | -15.1% |
| 1991 | -185.53 million current US$ | +28.7% |
| 1992 | -173.98 million current US$ | -6.2% |
| 1993 | -237.76 million current US$ | +36.7% |
| 1994 | -123.79 million current US$ | -47.9% |
| 1995 | -196.62 million current US$ | +58.8% |
| 1996 | -83.12 million current US$ | -57.7% |
| 1997 | -98.88 million current US$ | +19.0% |
| 1998 | -132.76 million current US$ | +34.3% |
| 1999 | -307.90 million current US$ | +131.9% |
| 2000 | -216.04 million current US$ | -29.8% |
| 2001 | -312.36 million current US$ | +44.6% |
| 2002 | -180.99 million current US$ | -42.1% |
| 2003 | -231.50 million current US$ | +27.9% |
| 2004 | -178.03 million current US$ | -23.1% |
| 2005 | -139.80 million current US$ | -21.5% |
| 2006 | -257.37 million current US$ | +84.1% |
| 2007 | -410.75 million current US$ | +59.6% |
| 2008 | -341.98 million current US$ | -16.7% |
| 2009 | -472.00 million current US$ | +38.0% |
| 2010 | -504.11 million current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2011 | -590.03 million current US$ | +17.0% |
| 2012 | -327.92 million current US$ | -44.4% |
| 2013 | -508.11 million current US$ | +54.9% |
| 2014 | -319.70 million current US$ | -37.1% |
| 2015 | -833.09 million current US$ | +160.6% |
| 2016 | -446.05 million current US$ | -46.5% |
| 2017 | -897.42 million current US$ | +101.2% |
| 2018 | -1.03 billion current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2019 | -636.15 million current US$ | -38.5% |
| 2020 | -798.19 million current US$ | +25.5% |
| 2021 | -1.10 billion current US$ | +37.8% |
| 2022 | -479.36 million current US$ | -56.4% |
| 2023 | -916.01 million current US$ | +91.1% |
| 2024 | -635.78 million current US$ | -30.6% |
| 2025 | -739.95 million current US$ | +16.4% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's -739.95 million current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -1.67 billion current US$, 44% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Benin's -739.95 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$, 1.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -23.07 million current US$ | -37.07 million current US$ | -11.67 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -104.37 million current US$ | -231.38 million current US$ | -30.98 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -232.14 million current US$ | -361.88 million current US$ | -119.33 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -168.45 million current US$ | -307.90 million current US$ | -83.12 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -274.08 million current US$ | -472.00 million current US$ | -139.80 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -609.61 million current US$ | -1.03 billion current US$ | -319.70 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -778.16 million current US$ | -1.10 billion current US$ | -479.36 million current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More economy & growth data for Benin
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 60.28 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0028 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.17 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 543.01 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0253 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 37.55 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 12.54 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Benin?
- External balance on goods and services in Benin was -739.95 million current US$ 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 Benin?
- The highest recorded value was -11.67 million current US$ in 1961.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.10 billion current US$ in 2021.
- How does Benin rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Benin ranks 110th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.