External balance on goods and services in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: External balance on goods and services was -2.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1990–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded -2.2% for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
The figure is up 20.3% on the previous year and up 67.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 1.4% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -6.8%, in 2015.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 31st out of 44 groups with data for 2025, putting it 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 Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.7% | — |
| 1991 | -1.0% | -255.5% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | -139.4% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +257.2% |
| 1994 | -0.4% | -127.5% |
| 1995 | -1.6% | +296.9% |
| 1996 | -1.0% | -35.7% |
| 1997 | -1.6% | +55.1% |
| 1998 | -2.4% | +51.2% |
| 1999 | -0.9% | -60.1% |
| 2000 | -0.3% | -69.1% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -324.2% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -82.3% |
| 2003 | -0.7% | -672.8% |
| 2004 | -1.2% | +80.2% |
| 2005 | -0.4% | -67.8% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | -151.6% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | +40.7% |
| 2008 | -0.4% | -237.1% |
| 2009 | -3.8% | +879.8% |
| 2010 | -0.5% | -87.7% |
| 2011 | -0.7% | +48.4% |
| 2012 | -3.2% | +357.1% |
| 2013 | -4.9% | +55.1% |
| 2014 | -5.2% | +6.9% |
| 2015 | -6.8% | +30.0% |
| 2016 | -5.0% | -26.6% |
| 2017 | -3.6% | -27.7% |
| 2018 | -3.1% | -15.1% |
| 2019 | -3.3% | +6.6% |
| 2020 | -2.1% | -35.7% |
| 2021 | -0.6% | -73.4% |
| 2022 | -2.4% | +335.7% |
| 2023 | -3.3% | +37.0% |
| 2024 | -2.8% | -16.7% |
| 2025 | -2.2% | -20.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Africa Eastern and Southern 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | -879.8% | -0.4% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | -672.8% | 0.1% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.6% | -2.4% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.5% | -3.8% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.6% | -6.8% | -0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.2% | -3.3% | -0.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 28 Zambia 7.4% compare
- 29 Azerbaijan 6.2% compare
- 30 Costa Rica 6.2% compare
- 31 Viet Nam 6.2% compare
- 32 Kazakhstan 6.0% compare
- 33 Czechia 5.9% compare
- 34 Libya 5.8% compare
More economy & growth data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 255.93 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1313 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 226.14 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,159 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5957 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 4.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1486 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6726 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- External balance on goods and services in Africa Eastern and Southern was -2.2% 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 Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 1.4% in 1993.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.8% in 2015.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 31st out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern 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 (% of GDP). 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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.