External balance on goods and services in New Zealand
New Zealand: External balance on goods and services was -1.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in New Zealand, 1970–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, external balance on goods and services in New Zealand stood at -1.3%.
That represents a change of up 52.0% on the previous year and down 254.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in New Zealand peaked at 4.0% in 1988 and was at its lowest, -12.3%, in 1974.
That places New Zealand 89th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -3.0% | — |
| 1971 | 0.8% | -126.8% |
| 1972 | 3.0% | +280.0% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | -95.0% |
| 1974 | -12.3% | -8186.8% |
| 1975 | -6.9% | -43.7% |
| 1976 | -2.6% | -62.8% |
| 1977 | -1.6% | -37.8% |
| 1978 | 0.7% | -146.4% |
| 1979 | -1.6% | -308.3% |
| 1980 | -1.1% | -30.1% |
| 1981 | -3.0% | +179.1% |
| 1982 | -3.0% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | -1.2% | -60.4% |
| 1984 | -2.6% | +119.2% |
| 1985 | -2.1% | -17.2% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | -123.6% |
| 1987 | 2.2% | +344.2% |
| 1988 | 4.0% | +77.9% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | -81.9% |
| 1990 | 0.9% | +26.8% |
| 1991 | 3.7% | +302.7% |
| 1992 | 3.1% | -14.6% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | +15.9% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | -24.9% |
| 1995 | 1.9% | -31.7% |
| 1996 | 1.6% | -15.5% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | -11.9% |
| 1998 | 1.3% | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -62.7% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | +495.0% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | +22.0% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -16.3% |
| 2003 | 1.8% | -41.9% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -83.7% |
| 2005 | -1.4% | -604.2% |
| 2006 | -0.4% | -73.3% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -131.4% |
| 2008 | -0.3% | -307.1% |
| 2009 | 2.3% | -1023.9% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 1.5% | -32.4% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -55.1% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | +131.8% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -49.6% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | +25.4% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -23.0% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | +15.8% |
| 2018 | -0.1% | -110.8% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -282.3% |
| 2020 | -0.5% | -373.3% |
| 2021 | -3.8% | +668.1% |
| 2022 | -5.1% | +35.9% |
| 2023 | -2.6% | -49.1% |
| 2024 | -1.3% | -52.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's -1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%. (72 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's -1.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -9.4%, 13% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | -8186.8% | 0.2% | -12.3% |
| 2009 | +1023.9% | -0.3% | 2.3% |
| 2021 | -668.1% | -0.5% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | -604.2% | 0.3% | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -2.3% | -12.3% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.6% | -3.0% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | 0.5% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | -1.4% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | -0.1% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.6% | -5.1% | -0.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More economy & growth data for New Zealand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.71 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.37 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 23.86 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0001 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.48 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 3.61 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 104.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 677.46 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 27.59 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in New Zealand?
- External balance on goods and services in New Zealand was -1.3% in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 1988.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was -12.3% in 1974.
- How does New Zealand rank for external balance on goods and services?
- New Zealand ranks 89th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 254.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.