External balance on goods and services in China
China: External balance on goods and services was 4.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in China, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
China recorded 4.2% for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 42.9% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in China peaked at 8.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, -4.0%, in 1985.
China ranks 47th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -0.0% | — |
| 1961 | 0.2% | -1645.1% |
| 1962 | 0.8% | +310.6% |
| 1963 | 0.9% | +12.3% |
| 1964 | 0.8% | -14.7% |
| 1965 | 0.5% | -38.9% |
| 1966 | 0.2% | -48.5% |
| 1967 | 0.3% | +34.1% |
| 1968 | 0.4% | +17.4% |
| 1969 | 0.6% | +59.4% |
| 1970 | 0.1% | -87.1% |
| 1971 | 0.5% | +509.5% |
| 1972 | 0.5% | +14.2% |
| 1973 | 0.5% | -7.3% |
| 1974 | -0.3% | -168.9% |
| 1975 | -0.2% | -33.3% |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -125.3% |
| 1977 | 0.1% | +104.2% |
| 1978 | -1.0% | -911.0% |
| 1979 | -0.9% | -9.7% |
| 1980 | -1.3% | +44.5% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | -186.1% |
| 1982 | 2.3% | +113.7% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | -52.5% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | -98.1% |
| 1985 | -4.0% | -19545.2% |
| 1986 | -2.5% | -39.2% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -104.3% |
| 1988 | -1.3% | -1319.6% |
| 1989 | -1.4% | +9.0% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | -308.6% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | -61.3% |
| 1993 | -2.6% | -326.4% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | -149.1% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +24.8% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | +24.7% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | +119.0% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 2.8% | -34.3% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | -15.3% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -11.9% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +21.1% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -15.2% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +21.2% |
| 2005 | 5.4% | +108.5% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | +39.2% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | +14.2% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | -12.6% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | -43.2% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | -15.3% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | -34.3% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | +13.4% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -9.8% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | -13.9% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | +53.3% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | -29.9% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -22.9% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | -62.4% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +27.6% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | +166.8% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | +32.1% |
| 2023 | 2.1% | -29.8% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | +41.8% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | +42.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.5% | -0.0% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.1% | -1.0% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.6% | -4.0% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | -2.6% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 2.1% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 0.6% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.1% | 4.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 7,621 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9716 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita 12,916 current US$ per person (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.38 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 6.99 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per capita 92,961 current LCU per person (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.46 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in China?
- External balance on goods and services in China was 4.2% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.0% in 1985.
- How does China rank for external balance on goods and services?
- China ranks 47th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.