External balance on goods and services in Germany
Germany: External balance on goods and services was 119.04 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
119.04 billion current US$
Change on year
down 32.7%
World rank
5th
of 193 countries
All-time high
261.73 billion current US$
in 2017
All-time low
-43.96 billion current US$
in 1980
Years of data
56
1970–2025
External balance on goods and services in Germany, 1970–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Germany is 119.04 billion current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 32.7% on the previous year and down 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Germany peaked at 261.73 billion current US$ in 2017 and was at its lowest, -43.96 billion current US$, in 1980.
That places Germany 5th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Germany, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -3.16 billion current US$ | — |
| 1971 | -4.34 billion current US$ | +37.1% |
| 1972 | -4.91 billion current US$ | +13.2% |
| 1973 | -4.00 billion current US$ | -18.5% |
| 1974 | -2.19 billion current US$ | -45.2% |
| 1975 | -8.33 billion current US$ | +279.9% |
| 1976 | -11.65 billion current US$ | +39.7% |
| 1977 | -12.96 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 1978 | -14.22 billion current US$ | +9.8% |
| 1979 | -31.63 billion current US$ | +122.4% |
| 1980 | -43.96 billion current US$ | +39.0% |
| 1981 | -31.45 billion current US$ | -28.5% |
| 1982 | -20.69 billion current US$ | -34.2% |
| 1983 | -23.19 billion current US$ | +12.1% |
| 1984 | -20.36 billion current US$ | -12.2% |
| 1985 | -15.05 billion current US$ | -26.1% |
| 1986 | -4.04 billion current US$ | -73.2% |
| 1987 | -4.40 billion current US$ | +8.8% |
| 1988 | -5.07 billion current US$ | +15.3% |
| 1989 | -8.86 billion current US$ | +74.6% |
| 1990 | -3.70 billion current US$ | -58.2% |
| 1991 | -9.44 billion current US$ | +155.1% |
| 1992 | -10.81 billion current US$ | +14.5% |
| 1993 | 179.82 million current US$ | -101.7% |
| 1994 | 2.56 billion current US$ | +1325.0% |
| 1995 | 9.25 billion current US$ | +261.2% |
| 1996 | 16.56 billion current US$ | +79.0% |
| 1997 | 22.69 billion current US$ | +37.0% |
| 1998 | 26.18 billion current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1999 | 11.97 billion current US$ | -54.3% |
| 2000 | 3.26 billion current US$ | -72.8% |
| 2001 | 30.71 billion current US$ | +842.1% |
| 2002 | 85.11 billion current US$ | +177.2% |
| 2003 | 91.79 billion current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 141.59 billion current US$ | +54.3% |
| 2005 | 143.31 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 157.79 billion current US$ | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 222.62 billion current US$ | +41.1% |
| 2008 | 220.29 billion current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 165.92 billion current US$ | -24.7% |
| 2010 | 177.01 billion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 185.61 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 217.21 billion current US$ | +17.0% |
| 2013 | 219.84 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 259.26 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 253.94 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 256.95 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 261.73 billion current US$ | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 238.00 billion current US$ | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 222.04 billion current US$ | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 209.13 billion current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 223.00 billion current US$ | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 103.81 billion current US$ | -53.4% |
| 2023 | 181.21 billion current US$ | +74.6% |
| 2024 | 176.99 billion current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 119.04 billion current US$ | -32.7% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 119.04 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.43 billion current US$, 34.7× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Germany's 119.04 billion current US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -50.32 million current US$. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +1325.0% | 179.82 million current US$ | 2.56 billion current US$ |
| 2001 | +842.1% | 3.26 billion current US$ | 30.71 billion current US$ |
| 1975 | -279.9% | -2.19 billion current US$ | -8.33 billion current US$ |
| 1995 | +261.2% | 2.56 billion current US$ | 9.25 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -9.74 billion current US$ | -31.63 billion current US$ | -2.19 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -17.71 billion current US$ | -43.96 billion current US$ | -4.04 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.54 billion current US$ | -10.81 billion current US$ | 26.18 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 126.24 billion current US$ | 3.26 billion current US$ | 222.62 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 229.16 billion current US$ | 177.01 billion current US$ | 261.73 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 168.86 billion current US$ | 103.81 billion current US$ | 223.00 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 2 Ireland 289.94 billion current US$ compare
- 3 Singapore 213.75 billion current US$ compare
- 4 Netherlands 149.52 billion current US$ compare
- 6 South Korea 96.70 billion current US$ compare
- 7 Switzerland 93.33 billion current US$ compare
- 8 Qatar 87.17 billion current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Germany
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.7761 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.6565 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0214 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,295 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 95.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 51.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0188 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,140 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 51.4 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Germany?
- External balance on goods and services in Germany was 119.04 billion current US$ 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 261.73 billion current US$ in 2017.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was -43.96 billion current US$ in 1980.
- How does Germany rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Germany ranks 5th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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.