Net trade in goods and services in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Net trade in goods and services was -2.63 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-2.63 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
down 42.6%
World rank
154th
of 200 countries
All-time high
86.31 million BoP, current US$
in 1977
All-time low
-8.61 billion BoP, current US$
in 2011
Years of data
50
1975–2024
Net trade in goods and services in Sri Lanka, 1975–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net trade in goods and services in Sri Lanka is -2.63 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 42.6% on the previous year and up 58.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net trade in goods and services in Sri Lanka peaked at 86.31 million BoP, current US$ in 1977 and was at its lowest, -8.61 billion BoP, current US$, in 2011.
That places Sri Lanka 154th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net trade in goods and services in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -171.68 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | -50.88 million BoP, current US$ | -70.4% |
| 1977 | 86.31 million BoP, current US$ | -269.6% |
| 1978 | -130.07 million BoP, current US$ | -250.7% |
| 1979 | -403.07 million BoP, current US$ | +209.9% |
| 1980 | -903.83 million BoP, current US$ | +124.2% |
| 1981 | -711.81 million BoP, current US$ | -21.2% |
| 1982 | -880.46 million BoP, current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1983 | -773.73 million BoP, current US$ | -12.1% |
| 1984 | -344.44 million BoP, current US$ | -55.5% |
| 1985 | -734.40 million BoP, current US$ | +113.2% |
| 1986 | -750.17 million BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1987 | -677.22 million BoP, current US$ | -9.7% |
| 1988 | -748.40 million BoP, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1989 | -770.31 million BoP, current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1990 | -672.04 million BoP, current US$ | -12.8% |
| 1991 | -1.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.9% |
| 1992 | -916.87 million BoP, current US$ | -10.2% |
| 1993 | -982.09 million BoP, current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1994 | -1.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.9% |
| 1995 | -1.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.4% |
| 1996 | -1.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.2% |
| 1997 | -1.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.9% |
| 1998 | -950.48 million BoP, current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1999 | -1.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.2% |
| 2000 | -1.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +41.7% |
| 2001 | -954.05 million BoP, current US$ | -44.7% |
| 2002 | -1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.5% |
| 2003 | -1.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2004 | -1.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +60.0% |
| 2005 | -2.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.5% |
| 2006 | -3.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.9% |
| 2007 | -3.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2008 | -5.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +66.4% |
| 2009 | -2.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -51.0% |
| 2010 | -4.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.8% |
| 2011 | -8.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +109.1% |
| 2012 | -8.16 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.3% |
| 2013 | -6.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.2% |
| 2014 | -6.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2015 | -6.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2016 | -5.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2017 | -6.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2018 | -6.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2019 | -5.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.7% |
| 2020 | -5.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2021 | -6.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2022 | -3.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -53.1% |
| 2023 | -1.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -39.9% |
| 2024 | -2.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's -2.63 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -288.45 million BoP, current US$, 9.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's -2.63 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for South Asia, which is -6.80 billion BoP, current US$, 39% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net trade in goods and services in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +269.6% | -50.88 million BoP, current US$ | 86.31 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1978 | -250.7% | 86.31 million BoP, current US$ | -130.07 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -133.88 million BoP, current US$ | -403.07 million BoP, current US$ | 86.31 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | -729.48 million BoP, current US$ | -903.83 million BoP, current US$ | -344.44 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -672.04 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.37 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.58 billion BoP, current US$ | -954.05 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.61 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 151 Zimbabwe -2.46 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 152 Tunisia -2.47 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 153 Botswana -2.56 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 155 North Macedonia -2.64 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 156 Namibia -3.28 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 157 Nicaragua -3.30 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 110.33 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0011 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.03 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 761.14 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 6.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0076 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 34.73 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 38.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net trade in goods and services in Sri Lanka?
- Net trade in goods and services in Sri Lanka was -2.63 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net trade in goods and services recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 86.31 million BoP, current US$ in 1977.
- What is the lowest net trade in goods and services recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for net trade in goods and services?
- Sri Lanka ranks 154th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is net trade in goods and services rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net trade in goods and services (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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 in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.