External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) was -2.95 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-2.95 billion current US$
Change on year
up 12.8%
World rank
141st
of 193 countries
All-time high
217.77 million current US$
in 1979
All-time low
-3.38 billion current US$
in 2024
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Nicaragua, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Nicaragua is -2.95 billion current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 12.8% on the previous year and down 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Nicaragua peaked at 217.77 million current US$ in 1979 and was at its lowest, -3.38 billion current US$, in 2024.
Nicaragua ranks 141st of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -5.72 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | -2.81 million current US$ | -50.8% |
| 1962 | -6.66 million current US$ | +136.8% |
| 1963 | -4.22 million current US$ | -36.7% |
| 1964 | -5.64 million current US$ | +33.9% |
| 1965 | -17.53 million current US$ | +210.6% |
| 1966 | -42.53 million current US$ | +142.6% |
| 1967 | -56.40 million current US$ | +32.6% |
| 1968 | -25.69 million current US$ | -54.5% |
| 1969 | -20.96 million current US$ | -18.4% |
| 1970 | -19.15 million current US$ | -8.6% |
| 1971 | -18.56 million current US$ | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 49.61 million current US$ | -367.3% |
| 1973 | -104.84 million current US$ | -311.3% |
| 1974 | -205.88 million current US$ | +96.4% |
| 1975 | -140.72 million current US$ | -31.7% |
| 1976 | 21.17 million current US$ | -115.0% |
| 1977 | -118.81 million current US$ | -661.1% |
| 1978 | 67.24 million current US$ | -156.6% |
| 1979 | 217.77 million current US$ | +223.9% |
| 1980 | -408.26 million current US$ | -287.5% |
| 1981 | -481.00 million current US$ | +17.8% |
| 1982 | -247.32 million current US$ | -48.6% |
| 1983 | -291.62 million current US$ | +17.9% |
| 1984 | -405.53 million current US$ | +39.1% |
| 1985 | -189.47 million current US$ | -53.3% |
| 1986 | -232.46 million current US$ | +22.7% |
| 1987 | -76.63 million current US$ | -67.0% |
| 1988 | -1.06 billion current US$ | +1283.3% |
| 1989 | -330.85 million current US$ | -68.8% |
| 1990 | -215.96 million current US$ | -34.7% |
| 1991 | -456.82 million current US$ | +111.5% |
| 1992 | -645.68 million current US$ | +41.3% |
| 1993 | -481.80 million current US$ | -25.4% |
| 1994 | -494.54 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1995 | -490.63 million current US$ | -0.8% |
| 1996 | -637.12 million current US$ | +29.9% |
| 1997 | -841.40 million current US$ | +32.1% |
| 1998 | -850.35 million current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1999 | -1.24 billion current US$ | +45.5% |
| 2000 | -1.08 billion current US$ | -12.9% |
| 2001 | -1.06 billion current US$ | -1.2% |
| 2002 | -1.07 billion current US$ | +0.1% |
| 2003 | -1.11 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2004 | -1.22 billion current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2005 | -1.45 billion current US$ | +18.5% |
| 2006 | -1.68 billion current US$ | +15.9% |
| 2007 | -2.00 billion current US$ | +19.2% |
| 2008 | -2.37 billion current US$ | +18.5% |
| 2009 | -1.58 billion current US$ | -33.3% |
| 2010 | -1.70 billion current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2011 | -2.13 billion current US$ | +25.2% |
| 2012 | -2.13 billion current US$ | +0.1% |
| 2013 | -2.26 billion current US$ | +5.9% |
| 2014 | -1.98 billion current US$ | -12.2% |
| 2015 | -2.30 billion current US$ | +16.0% |
| 2016 | -2.13 billion current US$ | -7.3% |
| 2017 | -1.89 billion current US$ | -11.4% |
| 2018 | -1.23 billion current US$ | -35.0% |
| 2019 | -562.99 million current US$ | -54.2% |
| 2020 | -654.89 million current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2021 | -1.90 billion current US$ | +190.7% |
| 2022 | -2.45 billion current US$ | +28.6% |
| 2023 | -2.37 billion current US$ | -3.4% |
| 2024 | -3.38 billion current US$ | +43.0% |
| 2025 | -2.95 billion current US$ | -12.8% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's -2.95 billion current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -1.67 billion current US$, 1.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's -2.95 billion current US$ is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is -154.10 million current US$, 19.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Nicaragua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -1283.3% | -76.63 million current US$ | -1.06 billion current US$ |
| 1977 | -661.1% | 21.17 million current US$ | -118.81 million current US$ |
| 1972 | +367.3% | -18.56 million current US$ | 49.61 million current US$ |
| 1973 | -311.3% | 49.61 million current US$ | -104.84 million current US$ |
| 1980 | -287.5% | 217.77 million current US$ | -408.26 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -18.81 million current US$ | -56.40 million current US$ | -2.81 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -25.21 million current US$ | -205.88 million current US$ | 217.77 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -372.31 million current US$ | -1.06 billion current US$ | -76.63 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -635.15 million current US$ | -1.24 billion current US$ | -215.96 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.46 billion current US$ | -2.37 billion current US$ | -1.06 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.83 billion current US$ | -2.30 billion current US$ | -562.99 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.28 billion current US$ | -3.38 billion current US$ | -654.89 million current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 138 North Macedonia -2.63 billion current US$ compare
- 139 Malawi -2.70 billion current US$ compare
- 140 Namibia -2.90 billion current US$ compare
- 142 Mozambique -3.20 billion current US$ compare
- 143 New Zealand -3.27 billion current US$ compare
- 144 Turkey -3.76 billion current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Nicaragua
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0168 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 53.46 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.8097 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0123 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 39.04 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -11.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.014 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Nicaragua?
- External balance on goods and services in Nicaragua was -2.95 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 217.77 million current US$ in 1979.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.38 billion current US$ in 2024.
- How does Nicaragua rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Nicaragua ranks 141st out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.