External balance on goods and services in Uganda
Uganda: External balance on goods and services was -4.54 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-4.54 billion current US$
Change on year
up 7.9%
World rank
153rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
57.82 million current US$
in 1973
All-time low
-4.94 billion current US$
in 2023
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Uganda, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Uganda recorded -4.54 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
The figure is up 7.9% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Uganda peaked at 57.82 million current US$ in 1973 and was at its lowest, -4.94 billion current US$, in 2023.
That places Uganda 153rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Uganda, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 23.33 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 12.25 million current US$ | -47.5% |
| 1962 | 11.95 million current US$ | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 22.77 million current US$ | +90.6% |
| 1964 | 40.08 million current US$ | +76.0% |
| 1965 | 10.78 million current US$ | -73.1% |
| 1966 | 2.24 million current US$ | -79.2% |
| 1967 | 8.82 million current US$ | +293.7% |
| 1968 | 13.72 million current US$ | +55.6% |
| 1969 | 13.86 million current US$ | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 40.74 million current US$ | +193.9% |
| 1971 | -58.66 million current US$ | -244.0% |
| 1972 | 38.92 million current US$ | -166.3% |
| 1973 | 57.82 million current US$ | +48.6% |
| 1974 | -6.84 million current US$ | -111.8% |
| 1975 | -53.44 million current US$ | +681.0% |
| 1976 | 43.60 million current US$ | -181.6% |
| 1977 | 39.76 million current US$ | -8.8% |
| 1978 | -126.09 million current US$ | -417.1% |
| 1979 | 40.00 million current US$ | -131.7% |
| 1980 | -82.00 million current US$ | -305.0% |
| 1981 | -80.00 million current US$ | -2.4% |
| 1982 | -199.00 million current US$ | +148.8% |
| 1983 | -111.67 million current US$ | -43.9% |
| 1984 | -59.03 million current US$ | -47.1% |
| 1985 | -44.69 million current US$ | -24.3% |
| 1986 | -95.26 million current US$ | +113.1% |
| 1987 | -614.17 million current US$ | +544.7% |
| 1988 | -664.22 million current US$ | +8.1% |
| 1989 | -534.97 million current US$ | -19.5% |
| 1990 | -522.04 million current US$ | -2.4% |
| 1991 | -480.76 million current US$ | -7.9% |
| 1992 | -443.76 million current US$ | -7.7% |
| 1993 | -454.56 million current US$ | +2.4% |
| 1994 | -413.34 million current US$ | -9.1% |
| 1995 | -520.28 million current US$ | +25.9% |
| 1996 | -692.91 million current US$ | +33.2% |
| 1997 | -466.41 million current US$ | -32.7% |
| 1998 | -708.91 million current US$ | +52.0% |
| 1999 | -691.13 million current US$ | -2.5% |
| 2000 | -708.89 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2001 | -718.02 million current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2002 | -855.81 million current US$ | +19.2% |
| 2003 | -912.56 million current US$ | +6.6% |
| 2004 | -799.22 million current US$ | -12.4% |
| 2005 | -982.58 million current US$ | +22.9% |
| 2006 | -1.31 billion current US$ | +32.8% |
| 2007 | -1.59 billion current US$ | +21.5% |
| 2008 | -1.11 billion current US$ | -29.9% |
| 2009 | -2.47 billion current US$ | +122.4% |
| 2010 | -2.83 billion current US$ | +14.6% |
| 2011 | -3.91 billion current US$ | +38.2% |
| 2012 | -3.42 billion current US$ | -12.7% |
| 2013 | -2.92 billion current US$ | -14.7% |
| 2014 | -2.00 billion current US$ | -31.6% |
| 2015 | -3.87 billion current US$ | +93.7% |
| 2016 | -1.86 billion current US$ | -52.0% |
| 2017 | -1.08 billion current US$ | -41.8% |
| 2018 | -2.13 billion current US$ | +97.0% |
| 2019 | -1.82 billion current US$ | -14.6% |
| 2020 | -2.32 billion current US$ | +27.6% |
| 2021 | -4.11 billion current US$ | +77.3% |
| 2022 | -4.77 billion current US$ | +15.9% |
| 2023 | -4.94 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2024 | -4.93 billion current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2025 | -4.54 billion current US$ | -7.9% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's -4.54 billion current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is -1.17 billion current US$, 3.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Uganda's -4.54 billion current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$, 8.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Uganda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -681.0% | -6.84 million current US$ | -53.44 million current US$ |
| 1987 | -544.7% | -95.26 million current US$ | -614.17 million current US$ |
| 1978 | -417.1% | 39.76 million current US$ | -126.09 million current US$ |
| 1980 | -305.0% | 40.00 million current US$ | -82.00 million current US$ |
| 1967 | +293.7% | 2.24 million current US$ | 8.82 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.98 million current US$ | 2.24 million current US$ | 40.08 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.58 million current US$ | -126.09 million current US$ | 57.82 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -248.50 million current US$ | -664.22 million current US$ | -44.69 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -539.41 million current US$ | -708.91 million current US$ | -413.34 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.15 billion current US$ | -2.47 billion current US$ | -708.89 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.58 billion current US$ | -3.91 billion current US$ | -1.08 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.27 billion current US$ | -4.94 billion current US$ | -2.32 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More economy & growth data for Uganda
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.99 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 399,794 BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.008 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 3.26 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 8.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0604 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 65.12 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -11.58 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Uganda?
- External balance on goods and services in Uganda was -4.54 billion current US$ 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 57.82 million current US$ in 1973.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.94 billion current US$ in 2023.
- How does Uganda rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Uganda ranks 153rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.