External balance on goods and services in South Asia
South Asia: External balance on goods and services was -2.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in South Asia, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
South Asia recorded -2.4% for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 22.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in South Asia peaked at -0.2% in 1977 and was at its lowest, -7.1%, in 2012.
That places South Asia 32nd 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -2.2% | — |
| 1961 | -1.7% | -24.8% |
| 1962 | -1.8% | +6.6% |
| 1963 | -1.7% | -1.5% |
| 1964 | -2.3% | +30.2% |
| 1965 | -2.1% | -6.8% |
| 1966 | -2.6% | +24.4% |
| 1967 | -2.1% | -18.2% |
| 1968 | -1.3% | -39.9% |
| 1969 | -0.9% | -26.6% |
| 1970 | -0.8% | -19.6% |
| 1971 | -0.9% | +20.1% |
| 1972 | -0.5% | -50.5% |
| 1973 | -1.0% | +123.1% |
| 1974 | -2.1% | +105.3% |
| 1975 | -2.0% | -4.8% |
| 1976 | -0.8% | -60.9% |
| 1977 | -0.2% | -70.5% |
| 1978 | -1.3% | +465.4% |
| 1979 | -2.5% | +92.8% |
| 1980 | -4.4% | +78.9% |
| 1981 | -3.6% | -17.9% |
| 1982 | -3.3% | -8.0% |
| 1983 | -3.0% | -10.5% |
| 1984 | -2.4% | -19.8% |
| 1985 | -3.2% | +33.1% |
| 1986 | -2.6% | -19.1% |
| 1987 | -2.1% | -17.7% |
| 1988 | -2.2% | +4.6% |
| 1989 | -2.0% | -9.6% |
| 1990 | -2.2% | +9.8% |
| 1991 | -1.0% | -52.8% |
| 1992 | -1.5% | +48.6% |
| 1993 | -1.0% | -36.3% |
| 1994 | -1.3% | +28.6% |
| 1995 | -2.1% | +67.6% |
| 1996 | -2.2% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | -2.0% | -6.6% |
| 1998 | -2.3% | +12.6% |
| 1999 | -2.5% | +11.3% |
| 2000 | -1.7% | -30.7% |
| 2001 | -1.7% | -5.3% |
| 2002 | -1.6% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | -1.4% | -13.5% |
| 2004 | -2.4% | +71.7% |
| 2005 | -3.4% | +41.2% |
| 2006 | -3.8% | +11.6% |
| 2007 | -4.6% | +20.8% |
| 2008 | -5.9% | +28.0% |
| 2009 | -5.9% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | -4.9% | -16.2% |
| 2011 | -7.0% | +41.8% |
| 2012 | -7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | -3.7% | -48.6% |
| 2014 | -3.6% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | -3.1% | -14.2% |
| 2016 | -2.3% | -25.1% |
| 2017 | -3.6% | +55.6% |
| 2018 | -4.5% | +24.4% |
| 2019 | -3.3% | -27.3% |
| 2020 | -1.5% | -56.0% |
| 2021 | -3.5% | +138.1% |
| 2022 | -3.7% | +5.7% |
| 2023 | -2.2% | -38.9% |
| 2024 | -2.5% | +10.6% |
| 2025 | -2.4% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.9% | -2.6% | -0.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.2% | -2.5% | -0.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.9% | -4.4% | -2.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.8% | -2.5% | -1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | -3.3% | -5.9% | -1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | -4.3% | -7.1% | -2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.6% | -3.7% | -1.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 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
- 35 Cyprus 5.7% compare
More economy & growth data for South Asia
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 6.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.0821 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 221.99 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5874 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5559 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 5.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,504 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 275.19 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in South Asia?
- External balance on goods and services in South Asia was -2.4% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was -0.2% in 1977.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.1% in 2012.
- How does South Asia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- South Asia ranks 32nd out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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.