External balance on goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): External balance on goods and services was -0.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1976–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at -0.0%.
The figure is up 96.8% on the previous year and up 99.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 3.0% in 1987 and was at its lowest, -4.1%, in 2015.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 21st of 44 groups on this measure, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | -1.3% | — |
| 1977 | 0.9% | -167.3% |
| 1978 | 0.4% | -49.3% |
| 1979 | 1.5% | +252.1% |
| 1980 | 2.0% | +26.9% |
| 1981 | -2.6% | -230.8% |
| 1982 | -1.6% | -36.9% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | -139.4% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +18.2% |
| 1985 | 2.6% | +242.1% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 3.0% | +19.9% |
| 1988 | 1.9% | -37.4% |
| 1989 | 1.7% | -12.9% |
| 1990 | 2.0% | +18.3% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | -80.4% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | +275.3% |
| 1993 | 2.3% | +63.5% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | -39.3% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -57.4% |
| 1996 | 1.0% | +63.7% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -62.2% |
| 1998 | -0.6% | -256.6% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -178.5% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +271.2% |
| 2001 | 1.7% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -25.3% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | -48.8% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -13.0% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | +160.8% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | +41.3% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -26.4% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -1.7% | -207.6% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | -150.5% |
| 2011 | 1.5% | +73.0% |
| 2012 | -0.5% | -132.4% |
| 2013 | -2.0% | +310.5% |
| 2014 | -2.2% | +13.0% |
| 2015 | -4.1% | +87.3% |
| 2016 | -3.2% | -23.2% |
| 2017 | -1.6% | -49.4% |
| 2018 | -0.9% | -43.8% |
| 2019 | -1.0% | +14.2% |
| 2020 | -0.8% | -18.1% |
| 2021 | 0.6% | -173.5% |
| 2022 | -0.4% | -158.2% |
| 2023 | -1.4% | +296.5% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | -57.0% |
| 2025 | -0.0% | -96.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.4% | -1.3% | 1.5% | 4 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | -2.6% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | -0.6% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | -1.7% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.3% | -4.1% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.4% | -1.4% | 0.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 18 Papua New Guinea 13.2% compare
- 19 Chad 12.7% compare
- 20 Norway 11.7% compare
- 21 Angola 11.3% compare
- 22 Netherlands 11.2% compare
- 23 Denmark 11.0% compare
- 24 Switzerland 8.9% compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.26 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 246.12 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,426 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 283.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1696 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- External balance on goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was -0.0% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1987.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.1% in 2015.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 21st out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 99.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.