External balance on goods and services in Iceland
Iceland: External balance on goods and services was -2.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Iceland, 1970–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Iceland is -2.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 78.4% on the previous year and down 129.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Iceland peaked at 9.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, -16.5%, in 2006.
That places Iceland 95th out of 193 countries 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.5% | — |
| 1971 | -6.3% | -515.3% |
| 1972 | -1.8% | -71.0% |
| 1973 | -2.1% | +13.1% |
| 1974 | -9.4% | +356.1% |
| 1975 | -8.1% | -13.7% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | -103.2% |
| 1977 | -0.8% | -425.7% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | -425.3% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | -63.4% |
| 1980 | -0.1% | -110.0% |
| 1981 | -1.5% | +1417.0% |
| 1982 | -4.6% | +205.1% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | -142.3% |
| 1984 | -0.2% | -107.9% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -127.9% |
| 1986 | 3.6% | +8191.2% |
| 1987 | -1.1% | -130.8% |
| 1988 | -1.0% | -13.3% |
| 1989 | 2.0% | -315.3% |
| 1990 | 1.1% | -44.2% |
| 1991 | -1.3% | -212.0% |
| 1992 | -0.2% | -86.5% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | -1784.6% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | +64.8% |
| 1995 | 3.3% | -30.6% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -85.7% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | -4.6% |
| 1998 | -4.3% | -1042.6% |
| 1999 | -4.5% | +4.1% |
| 2000 | -6.8% | +52.5% |
| 2001 | -0.8% | -87.6% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | -287.4% |
| 2003 | -2.9% | -284.6% |
| 2004 | -5.6% | +90.3% |
| 2005 | -11.5% | +107.6% |
| 2006 | -16.5% | +43.3% |
| 2007 | -8.9% | -46.4% |
| 2008 | -2.1% | -76.7% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | -487.4% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | +22.5% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -20.7% |
| 2012 | 5.9% | -23.7% |
| 2013 | 8.0% | +33.9% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | -17.7% |
| 2015 | 7.8% | +19.0% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | -7.2% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -31.0% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -19.6% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | +40.6% |
| 2020 | -0.4% | -106.7% |
| 2021 | -1.5% | +297.8% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -128.9% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | +63.5% |
| 2024 | -1.3% | -278.4% |
| 2025 | -2.3% | +78.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -2.3% | -9.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.1% | -4.6% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | -4.5% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | -4.6% | -16.5% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.8% | 4.0% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.7% | -2.3% | 0.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More economy & growth data for Iceland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.48 Percent per annum (2029)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 9.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 63.74 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 6.27 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 4.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.3194 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 31,408 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 17.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7569 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Iceland?
- External balance on goods and services in Iceland was -2.3% 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 9.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.5% in 2006.
- How does Iceland rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Iceland ranks 95th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 129.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.