External balance on goods and services in Namibia
Namibia: External balance on goods and services was -2.90 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-2.90 billion current US$
Change on year
up 17.8%
World rank
140th
of 193 countries
All-time high
341.82 million current US$
in 1980
All-time low
-3.53 billion current US$
in 2024
Years of data
46
1980–2025
External balance on goods and services in Namibia, 1980–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Namibia stood at -2.90 billion current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.8% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Namibia peaked at 341.82 million current US$ in 1980 and was at its lowest, -3.53 billion current US$, in 2024.
Namibia ranks 140th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Namibia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 341.82 million current US$ | — |
| 1981 | -256.45 million current US$ | -175.0% |
| 1982 | -181.59 million current US$ | -29.2% |
| 1983 | -174.75 million current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1984 | -120.55 million current US$ | -31.0% |
| 1985 | 184.97 million current US$ | -253.4% |
| 1986 | 186.93 million current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1987 | -112.89 million current US$ | -160.4% |
| 1988 | 37.51 million current US$ | -133.2% |
| 1989 | 85.17 million current US$ | +127.1% |
| 1990 | -185.20 million current US$ | -317.4% |
| 1991 | -175.93 million current US$ | -5.0% |
| 1992 | -203.84 million current US$ | +15.9% |
| 1993 | -93.91 million current US$ | -53.9% |
| 1994 | -47.02 million current US$ | -49.9% |
| 1995 | -166.43 million current US$ | +253.9% |
| 1996 | -228.78 million current US$ | +37.5% |
| 1997 | -313.67 million current US$ | +37.1% |
| 1998 | -363.71 million current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1999 | -318.75 million current US$ | -12.4% |
| 2000 | -143.55 million current US$ | -55.0% |
| 2001 | -230.24 million current US$ | +60.4% |
| 2002 | -69.58 million current US$ | -69.8% |
| 2003 | -447.99 million current US$ | +543.9% |
| 2004 | -149.79 million current US$ | -66.6% |
| 2005 | 9.91 million current US$ | -106.6% |
| 2006 | 312.05 million current US$ | +3047.6% |
| 2007 | -465.75 million current US$ | -249.3% |
| 2008 | -1.06 billion current US$ | +128.0% |
| 2009 | -1.84 billion current US$ | +73.7% |
| 2010 | -1.32 billion current US$ | -28.7% |
| 2011 | -1.39 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 2012 | -2.62 billion current US$ | +88.4% |
| 2013 | -2.74 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 2014 | -3.11 billion current US$ | +13.8% |
| 2015 | -3.00 billion current US$ | -3.6% |
| 2016 | -2.57 billion current US$ | -14.5% |
| 2017 | -1.80 billion current US$ | -29.8% |
| 2018 | -1.36 billion current US$ | -24.5% |
| 2019 | -1.27 billion current US$ | -6.9% |
| 2020 | -1.01 billion current US$ | -20.0% |
| 2021 | -2.43 billion current US$ | +140.4% |
| 2022 | -2.31 billion current US$ | -5.3% |
| 2023 | -2.91 billion current US$ | +26.2% |
| 2024 | -3.53 billion current US$ | +21.2% |
| 2025 | -2.90 billion current US$ | -17.8% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's -2.90 billion current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -1.67 billion current US$, 1.7× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Namibia's -2.90 billion current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$, 5.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Namibia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +3047.6% | 9.91 million current US$ | 312.05 million current US$ |
| 2003 | -543.9% | -69.58 million current US$ | -447.99 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -983,240 current US$ | -256.45 million current US$ | 341.82 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -209.72 million current US$ | -363.71 million current US$ | -47.02 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -409.15 million current US$ | -1.84 billion current US$ | 312.05 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.12 billion current US$ | -3.11 billion current US$ | -1.27 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.52 billion current US$ | -3.53 billion current US$ | -1.01 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 137 Montenegro -2.37 billion current US$ compare
- 138 North Macedonia -2.63 billion current US$ compare
- 139 Malawi -2.70 billion current US$ compare
- 141 Nicaragua -2.95 billion current US$ compare
- 142 Mozambique -3.20 billion current US$ compare
- 143 New Zealand -3.27 billion current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Namibia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.64 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 44.40 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0033 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.65 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -15.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1418 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 638.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -7.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Namibia?
- External balance on goods and services in Namibia was -2.90 billion current US$ 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 341.82 million current US$ in 1980.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.53 billion current US$ in 2024.
- How does Namibia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Namibia ranks 140th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.