External balance on goods and services in Malaysia
Malaysia: External balance on goods and services was 26.16 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
26.16 billion current US$
Change on year
up 16.4%
World rank
21st
of 193 countries
All-time high
51.54 billion current US$
in 2008
All-time low
-3.49 billion current US$
in 1995
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Malaysia, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 26.16 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.4% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Malaysia peaked at 51.54 billion current US$ in 2008 and was at its lowest, -3.49 billion current US$, in 1995.
That places Malaysia 21st out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 264.60 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 130.99 million current US$ | -50.5% |
| 1962 | 58.15 million current US$ | -55.6% |
| 1963 | 43.45 million current US$ | -25.3% |
| 1964 | 46.39 million current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 132.30 million current US$ | +185.2% |
| 1966 | 124.13 million current US$ | -6.2% |
| 1967 | 77.75 million current US$ | -37.4% |
| 1968 | 117.27 million current US$ | +50.8% |
| 1969 | 373.71 million current US$ | +218.7% |
| 1970 | 163.66 million current US$ | -56.2% |
| 1971 | 60.94 million current US$ | -62.8% |
| 1972 | -68.10 million current US$ | -211.7% |
| 1973 | 431.79 million current US$ | -734.1% |
| 1974 | 22.43 million current US$ | -94.8% |
| 1975 | 42.06 million current US$ | +87.5% |
| 1976 | 1.15 billion current US$ | +2645.0% |
| 1977 | 986.48 million current US$ | -14.5% |
| 1978 | 910.17 million current US$ | -7.7% |
| 1979 | 1.88 billion current US$ | +106.8% |
| 1980 | 612.80 million current US$ | -67.4% |
| 1981 | -1.55 billion current US$ | -352.3% |
| 1982 | -2.34 billion current US$ | +51.0% |
| 1983 | -1.51 billion current US$ | -35.5% |
| 1984 | 647.71 million current US$ | -143.0% |
| 1985 | 1.60 billion current US$ | +147.2% |
| 1986 | 1.69 billion current US$ | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 4.46 billion current US$ | +164.0% |
| 1988 | 3.60 billion current US$ | -19.3% |
| 1989 | 2.36 billion current US$ | -34.6% |
| 1990 | 899.86 million current US$ | -61.8% |
| 1991 | -1.80 billion current US$ | -299.9% |
| 1992 | 802.61 million current US$ | -144.6% |
| 1993 | -66.82 million current US$ | -108.3% |
| 1994 | -1.19 billion current US$ | +1687.2% |
| 1995 | -3.49 billion current US$ | +192.3% |
| 1996 | 1.40 billion current US$ | -140.0% |
| 1997 | 913.83 million current US$ | -34.6% |
| 1998 | 15.87 billion current US$ | +1637.0% |
| 1999 | 19.83 billion current US$ | +24.9% |
| 2000 | 18.02 billion current US$ | -9.1% |
| 2001 | 16.18 billion current US$ | -10.2% |
| 2002 | 17.40 billion current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 21.70 billion current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2004 | 25.41 billion current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2005 | 31.50 billion current US$ | +23.9% |
| 2006 | 35.46 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2007 | 38.46 billion current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 51.54 billion current US$ | +34.0% |
| 2009 | 41.01 billion current US$ | -20.4% |
| 2010 | 40.59 billion current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 46.40 billion current US$ | +14.3% |
| 2012 | 33.83 billion current US$ | -27.1% |
| 2013 | 27.60 billion current US$ | -18.4% |
| 2014 | 31.35 billion current US$ | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 22.68 billion current US$ | -27.7% |
| 2016 | 20.04 billion current US$ | -11.7% |
| 2017 | 21.92 billion current US$ | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 24.07 billion current US$ | +9.8% |
| 2019 | 27.49 billion current US$ | +14.2% |
| 2020 | 21.49 billion current US$ | -21.8% |
| 2021 | 27.03 billion current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2022 | 29.33 billion current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2023 | 19.06 billion current US$ | -35.0% |
| 2024 | 22.46 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2025 | 26.16 billion current US$ | +16.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 26.16 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -347.73 million current US$. (53 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 26.16 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -166.62 million current US$. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +2645.0% | 42.06 million current US$ | 1.15 billion current US$ |
| 1994 | -1687.2% | -66.82 million current US$ | -1.19 billion current US$ |
| 1998 | +1637.0% | 913.83 million current US$ | 15.87 billion current US$ |
| 1973 | +734.1% | -68.10 million current US$ | 431.79 million current US$ |
| 1981 | -352.3% | 612.80 million current US$ | -1.55 billion current US$ |
| 1991 | -299.9% | 899.86 million current US$ | -1.80 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 136.87 million current US$ | 43.45 million current US$ | 373.71 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 558.65 million current US$ | -68.10 million current US$ | 1.88 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 958.44 million current US$ | -2.34 billion current US$ | 4.46 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.32 billion current US$ | -3.49 billion current US$ | 19.83 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.67 billion current US$ | 16.18 billion current US$ | 51.54 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.60 billion current US$ | 20.04 billion current US$ | 46.40 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.25 billion current US$ | 19.06 billion current US$ | 29.33 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More economy & growth data for Malaysia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 13.04 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0309 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 366.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.59 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 96.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0369 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 438.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Malaysia?
- External balance on goods and services in Malaysia was 26.16 billion current US$ 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 51.54 billion current US$ in 2008.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.49 billion current US$ in 1995.
- How does Malaysia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Malaysia ranks 21st out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.