External balance on goods and services in India
India: External balance on goods and services was -68.92 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-68.92 billion current US$
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
192nd
of 193 countries
All-time high
587.36 million current US$
in 1976
All-time low
-122.91 billion current US$
in 2012
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in India, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in India is -68.92 billion current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in India peaked at 587.36 million current US$ in 1976 and was at its lowest, -122.91 billion current US$, in 2012.
That places India 192nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in India, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -877.80 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | -648.90 million current US$ | -26.1% |
| 1962 | -785.40 million current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1963 | -787.50 million current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1964 | -1.11 billion current US$ | +40.5% |
| 1965 | -1.13 billion current US$ | +2.5% |
| 1966 | -1.15 billion current US$ | +1.7% |
| 1967 | -958.67 million current US$ | -16.8% |
| 1968 | -480.00 million current US$ | -49.9% |
| 1969 | -185.33 million current US$ | -61.4% |
| 1970 | -60.00 million current US$ | -67.6% |
| 1971 | -225.76 million current US$ | +276.3% |
| 1972 | 227.67 million current US$ | -200.8% |
| 1973 | -440.05 million current US$ | -293.3% |
| 1974 | -1.18 billion current US$ | +169.0% |
| 1975 | -984.59 million current US$ | -16.8% |
| 1976 | 587.36 million current US$ | -159.7% |
| 1977 | 143.65 million current US$ | -75.5% |
| 1978 | -375.33 million current US$ | -361.3% |
| 1979 | -2.17 billion current US$ | +478.6% |
| 1980 | -5.79 billion current US$ | +166.4% |
| 1981 | -5.10 billion current US$ | -11.9% |
| 1982 | -4.33 billion current US$ | -15.0% |
| 1983 | -4.40 billion current US$ | +1.5% |
| 1984 | -3.06 billion current US$ | -30.4% |
| 1985 | -5.56 billion current US$ | +81.6% |
| 1986 | -4.55 billion current US$ | -18.2% |
| 1987 | -3.84 billion current US$ | -15.6% |
| 1988 | -4.21 billion current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1989 | -3.36 billion current US$ | -20.2% |
| 1990 | -4.49 billion current US$ | +33.6% |
| 1991 | 2.04 million current US$ | -100.0% |
| 1992 | -2.15 billion current US$ | -105707.4% |
| 1993 | 47.19 million current US$ | -102.2% |
| 1994 | -988.29 million current US$ | -2194.4% |
| 1995 | -4.25 billion current US$ | +330.0% |
| 1996 | -4.55 billion current US$ | +7.2% |
| 1997 | -5.15 billion current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1998 | -7.01 billion current US$ | +36.1% |
| 1999 | -8.77 billion current US$ | +25.2% |
| 2000 | -4.25 billion current US$ | -51.6% |
| 2001 | -4.25 billion current US$ | +0.2% |
| 2002 | -5.05 billion current US$ | +18.6% |
| 2003 | -4.23 billion current US$ | -16.1% |
| 2004 | -12.66 billion current US$ | +199.1% |
| 2005 | -22.90 billion current US$ | +80.8% |
| 2006 | -29.98 billion current US$ | +30.9% |
| 2007 | -49.73 billion current US$ | +65.9% |
| 2008 | -62.02 billion current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2009 | -73.43 billion current US$ | +18.4% |
| 2010 | -74.62 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2011 | -119.28 billion current US$ | +59.9% |
| 2012 | -122.91 billion current US$ | +3.0% |
| 2013 | -55.38 billion current US$ | -54.9% |
| 2014 | -60.89 billion current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2015 | -48.31 billion current US$ | -20.7% |
| 2016 | -40.53 billion current US$ | -16.1% |
| 2017 | -83.76 billion current US$ | +106.7% |
| 2018 | -101.67 billion current US$ | +21.4% |
| 2019 | -73.07 billion current US$ | -28.1% |
| 2020 | -10.52 billion current US$ | -85.6% |
| 2021 | -83.13 billion current US$ | +690.5% |
| 2022 | -85.07 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2023 | -56.48 billion current US$ | -33.6% |
| 2024 | -67.27 billion current US$ | +19.1% |
| 2025 | -68.92 billion current US$ | +2.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's -68.92 billion current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -1.67 billion current US$, 41.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's -68.92 billion current US$ is below the median for South Asia, which is -7.77 billion current US$, 8.9× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | -105707.4% | 2.04 million current US$ | -2.15 billion current US$ |
| 1994 | -2194.4% | 47.19 million current US$ | -988.29 million current US$ |
| 2021 | -690.5% | -10.52 billion current US$ | -83.13 billion current US$ |
| 1979 | -478.6% | -375.33 million current US$ | -2.17 billion current US$ |
| 1978 | -361.3% | 143.65 million current US$ | -375.33 million current US$ |
| 1995 | -330.0% | -988.29 million current US$ | -4.25 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -811.71 million current US$ | -1.15 billion current US$ | -185.33 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -448.25 million current US$ | -2.17 billion current US$ | 587.36 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -4.42 billion current US$ | -5.79 billion current US$ | -3.06 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.73 billion current US$ | -8.77 billion current US$ | 47.19 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -26.85 billion current US$ | -73.43 billion current US$ | -4.23 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -78.04 billion current US$ | -122.91 billion current US$ | -40.53 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -61.90 billion current US$ | -85.07 billion current US$ | -10.52 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 189 United Kingdom -50.57 billion current US$ compare
- 190 Ukraine -56.80 billion current US$ compare
- 191 Philippines -66.70 billion current US$ compare
- 193 United States -898.46 billion current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for India
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 5.66 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 35.69 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.009 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 24.38 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 39.10 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 44.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0099 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 26.71 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.87 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in India?
- External balance on goods and services in India was -68.92 billion current US$ 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 587.36 million current US$ in 1976.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was -122.91 billion current US$ in 2012.
- How does India rank for external balance on goods and services?
- India ranks 192nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.