External balance on goods and services in Namibia
Namibia: External balance on goods and services was -19.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Namibia, 1980–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Namibia recorded -19.2% for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
The figure is up 25.7% on the previous year and up 27.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Namibia peaked at 14.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, -26.5%, in 2015.
That places Namibia 155th 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 Namibia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 14.1% | — |
| 1981 | -11.4% | -180.8% |
| 1982 | -8.6% | -24.8% |
| 1983 | -7.6% | -11.2% |
| 1984 | -6.2% | -18.8% |
| 1985 | 11.5% | -286.2% |
| 1986 | 10.3% | -10.2% |
| 1987 | -4.9% | -147.5% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | -130.6% |
| 1989 | 3.4% | +123.5% |
| 1990 | -6.6% | -297.6% |
| 1991 | -5.9% | -11.6% |
| 1992 | -5.9% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | -2.9% | -51.4% |
| 1994 | -1.3% | -55.6% |
| 1995 | -4.2% | +226.2% |
| 1996 | -5.7% | +37.1% |
| 1997 | -7.5% | +31.6% |
| 1998 | -9.4% | +24.4% |
| 1999 | -8.2% | -12.3% |
| 2000 | -3.7% | -55.6% |
| 2001 | -6.5% | +76.8% |
| 2002 | -2.1% | -67.9% |
| 2003 | -9.1% | +337.7% |
| 2004 | -2.3% | -75.1% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -106.0% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | +2751.2% |
| 2007 | -5.3% | -235.1% |
| 2008 | -12.3% | +134.2% |
| 2009 | -20.6% | +67.3% |
| 2010 | -11.5% | -44.2% |
| 2011 | -11.1% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | -20.1% | +80.9% |
| 2013 | -22.7% | +13.1% |
| 2014 | -25.0% | +10.2% |
| 2015 | -26.5% | +5.8% |
| 2016 | -23.9% | -9.6% |
| 2017 | -14.0% | -41.6% |
| 2018 | -9.9% | -28.8% |
| 2019 | -10.1% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | -9.6% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | -19.6% | +105.1% |
| 2022 | -18.3% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | -23.2% | +26.7% |
| 2024 | -25.9% | +11.3% |
| 2025 | -19.2% | -25.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.2% | -11.4% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -5.8% | -9.4% | -1.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -5.8% | -20.6% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | -17.5% | -26.5% | -9.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -19.3% | -25.9% | -9.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More economy & growth data for Namibia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.64 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1002 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 488.39 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1.79 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 8,737 current LCU per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.0824 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 401.63 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 5,174 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 8.37 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Namibia?
- External balance on goods and services in Namibia was -19.2% 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was -26.5% in 2015.
- How does Namibia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Namibia ranks 155th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.