External balance on goods and services in China
China: External balance on goods and services was 816.19 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
816.19 billion current US$
Change on year
up 48.7%
World rank
1st
of 193 countries
All-time high
816.19 billion current US$
in 2025
All-time low
-12.50 billion current US$
in 1985
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in China, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
China recorded 816.19 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 48.7% on the previous year and up 127.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in China peaked at 816.19 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, -12.50 billion current US$, in 1985.
China ranks 1st of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in China, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -7.53 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 97.52 million current US$ | -1395.1% |
| 1962 | 377.65 million current US$ | +287.3% |
| 1963 | 455.68 million current US$ | +20.7% |
| 1964 | 457.76 million current US$ | +0.5% |
| 1965 | 330.18 million current US$ | -27.9% |
| 1966 | 185.30 million current US$ | -43.9% |
| 1967 | 236.02 million current US$ | +27.4% |
| 1968 | 269.48 million current US$ | +14.2% |
| 1969 | 483.20 million current US$ | +79.3% |
| 1970 | 72.66 million current US$ | -85.0% |
| 1971 | 477.29 million current US$ | +556.9% |
| 1972 | 620.76 million current US$ | +30.1% |
| 1973 | 701.49 million current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1974 | -503.13 million current US$ | -171.7% |
| 1975 | -380.48 million current US$ | -24.4% |
| 1976 | 90.79 million current US$ | -123.9% |
| 1977 | 210.67 million current US$ | +132.0% |
| 1978 | -1.46 billion current US$ | -793.3% |
| 1979 | -1.57 billion current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1980 | -2.44 billion current US$ | +55.0% |
| 1981 | 2.15 billion current US$ | -188.2% |
| 1982 | 4.81 billion current US$ | +123.8% |
| 1983 | 2.57 billion current US$ | -46.6% |
| 1984 | 54.00 million current US$ | -97.9% |
| 1985 | -12.50 billion current US$ | -23250.0% |
| 1986 | -7.39 billion current US$ | -40.9% |
| 1987 | 291.00 million current US$ | -103.9% |
| 1988 | -4.06 billion current US$ | -1495.5% |
| 1989 | -4.93 billion current US$ | +21.3% |
| 1990 | 10.67 billion current US$ | -316.5% |
| 1991 | 11.60 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 1992 | 5.00 billion current US$ | -56.9% |
| 1993 | -11.79 billion current US$ | -335.9% |
| 1994 | 7.36 billion current US$ | -162.4% |
| 1995 | 11.96 billion current US$ | +62.5% |
| 1996 | 17.55 billion current US$ | +46.8% |
| 1997 | 42.82 billion current US$ | +144.0% |
| 1998 | 43.84 billion current US$ | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 30.64 billion current US$ | -30.1% |
| 2000 | 28.79 billion current US$ | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 28.09 billion current US$ | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 37.38 billion current US$ | +33.1% |
| 2003 | 35.82 billion current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 51.17 billion current US$ | +42.9% |
| 2005 | 124.63 billion current US$ | +143.5% |
| 2006 | 208.92 billion current US$ | +67.6% |
| 2007 | 308.04 billion current US$ | +47.4% |
| 2008 | 348.83 billion current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2009 | 220.13 billion current US$ | -36.9% |
| 2010 | 222.40 billion current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 180.90 billion current US$ | -18.7% |
| 2012 | 231.86 billion current US$ | +28.2% |
| 2013 | 234.87 billion current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 221.55 billion current US$ | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 358.84 billion current US$ | +62.0% |
| 2016 | 255.48 billion current US$ | -28.8% |
| 2017 | 215.70 billion current US$ | -15.6% |
| 2018 | 91.49 billion current US$ | -57.6% |
| 2019 | 120.15 billion current US$ | +31.3% |
| 2020 | 330.13 billion current US$ | +174.8% |
| 2021 | 405.39 billion current US$ | +22.8% |
| 2022 | 539.05 billion current US$ | +33.0% |
| 2023 | 377.37 billion current US$ | -30.0% |
| 2024 | 548.70 billion current US$ | +45.4% |
| 2025 | 816.19 billion current US$ | +48.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 816.19 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -347.73 million current US$. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 816.19 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -166.62 million current US$. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | -23250.0% | 54.00 million current US$ | -12.50 billion current US$ |
| 1988 | -1495.5% | 291.00 million current US$ | -4.06 billion current US$ |
| 1961 | +1395.1% | -7.53 million current US$ | 97.52 million current US$ |
| 1978 | -793.3% | 210.67 million current US$ | -1.46 billion current US$ |
| 1971 | +556.9% | 72.66 million current US$ | 477.29 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 288.53 million current US$ | -7.53 million current US$ | 483.20 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -174.32 million current US$ | -1.57 billion current US$ | 701.49 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.14 billion current US$ | -12.50 billion current US$ | 4.81 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.96 billion current US$ | -11.79 billion current US$ | 43.84 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 139.18 billion current US$ | 28.09 billion current US$ | 348.83 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 213.32 billion current US$ | 91.49 billion current US$ | 358.84 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 502.81 billion current US$ | 330.13 billion current US$ | 816.19 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0081 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 111.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 79.98 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 87.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 56.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in China?
- External balance on goods and services in China was 816.19 billion current US$ 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 816.19 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -12.50 billion current US$ in 1985.
- How does China rank for external balance on goods and services?
- China ranks 1st out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 127.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.
Download this data
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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.