External balance on goods and services in Nepal
Nepal: External balance on goods and services was -11.33 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-11.33 billion current US$
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
172nd
of 193 countries
All-time high
-656,254 current US$
in 1967
All-time low
-14.65 billion current US$
in 2022
Years of data
61
1965–2025
External balance on goods and services in Nepal, 1965–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Nepal recorded -11.33 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 77.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Nepal peaked at -656,254 current US$ in 1967 and was at its lowest, -14.65 billion current US$, in 2022.
That places Nepal 172nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Nepal, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | -45.28 million current US$ | — |
| 1966 | -28.22 million current US$ | -37.7% |
| 1967 | -656,254 current US$ | -97.7% |
| 1968 | -5.06 million current US$ | +671.0% |
| 1969 | -25.28 million current US$ | +399.7% |
| 1970 | -29.43 million current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1971 | -32.89 million current US$ | +11.7% |
| 1972 | -23.11 million current US$ | -29.7% |
| 1973 | -36.57 million current US$ | +58.2% |
| 1974 | -62.10 million current US$ | +69.8% |
| 1975 | -70.37 million current US$ | +13.3% |
| 1976 | -49.45 million current US$ | -29.7% |
| 1977 | -34.96 million current US$ | -29.3% |
| 1978 | -78.61 million current US$ | +124.9% |
| 1979 | -77.42 million current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1980 | -139.92 million current US$ | +80.7% |
| 1981 | -152.83 million current US$ | +9.2% |
| 1982 | -172.85 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 1983 | -271.25 million current US$ | +56.9% |
| 1984 | -227.06 million current US$ | -16.3% |
| 1985 | -221.92 million current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1986 | -246.32 million current US$ | +11.0% |
| 1987 | -268.91 million current US$ | +9.2% |
| 1988 | -381.29 million current US$ | +41.8% |
| 1989 | -395.38 million current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1990 | -403.90 million current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1991 | -458.56 million current US$ | +13.5% |
| 1992 | -332.50 million current US$ | -27.5% |
| 1993 | -377.85 million current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1994 | -506.08 million current US$ | +33.9% |
| 1995 | -420.05 million current US$ | -17.0% |
| 1996 | -579.78 million current US$ | +38.0% |
| 1997 | -559.74 million current US$ | -3.5% |
| 1998 | -537.37 million current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1999 | -345.81 million current US$ | -35.6% |
| 2000 | -502.32 million current US$ | +45.3% |
| 2001 | -641.46 million current US$ | +27.7% |
| 2002 | -650.86 million current US$ | +1.5% |
| 2003 | -813.35 million current US$ | +25.0% |
| 2004 | -929.75 million current US$ | +14.3% |
| 2005 | -1.21 billion current US$ | +30.3% |
| 2006 | -1.62 billion current US$ | +33.4% |
| 2007 | -1.95 billion current US$ | +20.6% |
| 2008 | -2.57 billion current US$ | +31.9% |
| 2009 | -2.86 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2010 | -4.29 billion current US$ | +50.1% |
| 2011 | -4.46 billion current US$ | +4.0% |
| 2012 | -4.43 billion current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2013 | -5.16 billion current US$ | +16.4% |
| 2014 | -5.85 billion current US$ | +13.4% |
| 2015 | -6.39 billion current US$ | +9.3% |
| 2016 | -6.32 billion current US$ | -1.2% |
| 2017 | -8.41 billion current US$ | +33.1% |
| 2018 | -10.87 billion current US$ | +29.2% |
| 2019 | -11.52 billion current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2020 | -9.13 billion current US$ | -20.7% |
| 2021 | -12.12 billion current US$ | +32.7% |
| 2022 | -14.65 billion current US$ | +20.9% |
| 2023 | -11.31 billion current US$ | -22.8% |
| 2024 | -10.85 billion current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2025 | -11.33 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's -11.33 billion current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -1.67 billion current US$, 6.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nepal's -11.33 billion current US$ is below the median for South Asia, which is -7.77 billion current US$, 1.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Nepal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | -671.0% | -656,254 current US$ | -5.06 million current US$ |
| 1969 | -399.7% | -5.06 million current US$ | -25.28 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -20.90 million current US$ | -45.28 million current US$ | -656,254 current US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | -49.49 million current US$ | -78.61 million current US$ | -23.11 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -247.77 million current US$ | -395.38 million current US$ | -139.92 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -452.16 million current US$ | -579.78 million current US$ | -332.50 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.37 billion current US$ | -2.86 billion current US$ | -502.32 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.77 billion current US$ | -11.52 billion current US$ | -4.29 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -11.56 billion current US$ | -14.65 billion current US$ | -9.13 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More economy & growth data for Nepal
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.28 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 0 BoP, current US$ (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0 BoP, current US$ per person (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 56.90 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -23.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.92 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 33.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Nepal?
- External balance on goods and services in Nepal was -11.33 billion current US$ 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was -656,254 current US$ in 1967.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was -14.65 billion current US$ in 2022.
- How does Nepal rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Nepal ranks 172nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.