External balance on goods and services (% of GDP)
Countries By External balance on goods and services (% of GDP)
Key points
- The external balance on goods and services (% of GDP) statistic measures a country's trade performance by comparing its exports of goods and services to its imports.
- Luxembourg has the highest external balance at 33.97% of GDP, indicating a significant trade surplus, while Kiribati has the lowest at -71.32% of GDP, suggesting a substantial trade deficit.
- The average external balance among the listed countries is -5.97% of GDP, implying an overall trade deficit across the group.
- A positive value indicates a trade surplus, meaning the country exports more than it imports, while a negative value signifies a trade deficit, where imports exceed exports.
- This statistic is crucial for assessing a country's economic competitiveness, global trade relationships, and potential vulnerability to external shocks in the form of trade imbalances.
Official Definition of External balance on goods and services (% of GDP)
External balance on goods and services (formerly resource balance) equals exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services (previously nonfactor services).
Importance
The External balance on goods and services (% of GDP) is a crucial macroeconomic statistic for a country as it provides insight into its international trade dynamics. When this statistic is low or negative, indicating that a country imports more goods and services than it exports, it can lead to trade deficits, a decrease in foreign exchange reserves, and potentially a weakening of the country's currency. This can impact the country's overall economic stability and competitiveness in the global market.
On the other hand, when the External balance on goods and services is high or positive, suggesting that a country exports more than it imports, it can result in trade surpluses, increased foreign exchange reserves, and a strengthening of the country's currency. This can enhance the country's economic resilience, stimulate economic growth, and improve its standing in international trade relations.
Top 10 Countries by External balance on goods and services (% of GDP)
Bottom 10 Countries by External balance on goods and services (% of GDP)
Regions
Europe
Looking at the External balance on goods and services (% of GDP) statistic for the listed countries, we can observe a wide range of values indicating their trade positions. Countries like Luxembourg and Ireland show exceptionally high positive percentages, highlighting strong export performance. On the other hand, countries like Montenegro and Moldova exhibit significant negative percentages, indicating trade deficits. A positive balance suggests a competitive economy with robust exports and foreign exchange earnings, but it may also indicate an over-reliance on external markets. Conversely, a negative balance can signify import dependency and potential vulnerabilities to external shocks. These disparities in trade balances can impact economic development, influencing factors like currency stability, employment levels, and overall growth trajectories for each country.
Far East: East Asia, SE Asia, Australia
Examining the external balance on goods and services (% of GDP) for the selected countries reveals a diverse landscape. Singapore stands out with a significantly high value of 31.20%, showcasing a robust export-oriented economy. Malaysia and Thailand also demonstrate healthy balances at 6.37% and 5.19% respectively, indicating strong international trade positions. Conversely, the Philippines lags with a negative value of -7.76%, suggesting a trade deficit. Countries like Brunei and Vietnam show moderate but positive balances, reflecting stable trade dynamics. This statistic is crucial for economic development as a positive balance signifies competitiveness and potential for economic growth, while deficits may lead to reliance on foreign borrowing and vulnerability to external shocks.
ASEAN
Brunei boasts a relatively healthy external balance on goods and services at 4.42% of GDP, indicating a trade surplus, which can signify economic strength and stability. In contrast, the Philippines shows a significant deficit of -7.76%, suggesting a reliance on imports and potential vulnerability to external economic shocks. Singapore stands out with an exceptionally high surplus of 31.20%, reflecting its robust export-oriented economy. While a positive balance can enhance a country's currency value and economic growth, overreliance on exports could expose economies like Singapore to global market fluctuations. For the Philippines, addressing the deficit is crucial to prevent currency devaluation and debt accumulation.
Latin America
The external balance on goods and services as a percentage of GDP provides insight into each country's trade position. Chile and Uruguay demonstrate a strong positive balance, indicating healthy trade surpluses, which can boost economic growth and stability. On the other hand, countries like El Salvador and Honduras show significant negative balances, which may suggest trade deficits and potential vulnerability to external shocks. While a positive balance can indicate competitiveness and export strength, a negative balance may lead to reliance on foreign capital and debt accumulation. Ultimately, a sustainable external balance is crucial for long-term economic development and resilience in the face of global economic fluctuations.
Middle East
Among the listed countries, the External Balance on Goods and Services (% of GDP) varies significantly. Countries like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain demonstrate strong positive balances at 25.28% and 5.64% respectively, indicating robust export performance. Conversely, countries like Syria and State of Palestine show significant deficits at -18.84% and -36.57% respectively. These disparities in external balances can impact development, with positive balances providing stability but possibly relying heavily on external markets, while deficits can lead to dependence on imports and vulnerability to economic shocks. Each country must carefully manage their external balance to ensure sustainable development and economic resilience.
Rivals
Anglosphere v BRICS
Australia, the Russian Federation, and South Africa have favorable External balance on goods and services, indicating they export more goods and services than they import, contributing positively to their GDP. Conversely, the United States, Canada, and India display negative balances, indicating higher levels of imports compared to exports, potentially impacting their economic growth. While a positive balance signifies economic strength and competitiveness, it may also indicate overreliance on exports, exposing countries to external shocks. On the other hand, a negative balance could suggest high consumption levels or a lack of domestic production capacity, highlighting the need for structural reforms to boost exports and reduce dependence on imports.
Russia v Ukraine
The External balance on goods and services (% of GDP) for the Russian Federation stands at 5.08%, indicating a trade surplus where exports exceed imports. In contrast, Ukraine has a negative balance of -1.51%, signifying a trade deficit situation. The Russian Federation benefits from this surplus by accumulating foreign currency reserves and fostering economic stability, although it may face over-reliance on commodity exports. On the other hand, Ukraine's deficit reflects potential economic vulnerability due to high import dependency, but could also indicate investment in domestic infrastructure and industries. Ultimately, these statistics impact the countries' development by influencing currency strength, trade policies, and economic resilience.
France v United Kingdom
France has a negative External balance on goods and services at -2.13% of GDP, indicating that it imports more goods and services than it exports. In contrast, the United Kingdom shows a positive balance of 0.61%, signifying a surplus in exports over imports. France's deficit may indicate a reliance on imports, potentially leading to trade imbalances and vulnerability to external shocks. Conversely, the UK's surplus suggests competitiveness in international trade. France may face challenges in maintaining economic stability, while the UK could enjoy stronger economic resilience and potential for growth through export-led strategies.
Israel v Iran
Iran has a negative External balance on goods and services, indicating that it imports more goods and services than it exports, resulting in a trade deficit. On the other hand, Israel has a positive balance, signifying that it exports more than it imports, leading to a trade surplus. Iran's deficit may signal economic challenges such as reliance on imports, currency depreciation, or trade barriers. Conversely, Israel's surplus may suggest competitiveness, diversified exports, or strong domestic production. For Iran, addressing the trade deficit could enhance economic stability and reduce dependency on external sources, while Israel's surplus could support economic growth and resilience to external shocks.
Saudi Arabia v Iran
Iran has a negative External balance on goods and services of approximately -4.96% of its GDP, indicating that it imports more goods and services than it exports. In contrast, Saudi Arabia has a positive balance of about 0.09%, suggesting it exports slightly more than it imports. Iran's deficit may signify potential challenges in trade competitiveness and reliance on imports, which could strain foreign exchange reserves. However, it could also reflect investment in infrastructure and technology. Saudi Arabia's surplus showcases trade strength but might indicate vulnerability to external demand fluctuations. This statistic impacts Iran's economic stability and could drive policies towards export promotion, while Saudi Arabia may focus on diversifying its economy to reduce reliance on exports.
India v Pakistan
India has a negative External balance on goods and services, indicating that it imports more goods and services than it exports, amounting to -0.39% of its GDP. On the other hand, Pakistan's external balance is even more negative at -8.12% of GDP, signifying a larger trade deficit. India's relatively lower deficit may imply a more balanced trade position compared to Pakistan. However, India's dependence on imports could hinder its self-sufficiency and economic stability. Meanwhile, Pakistan's larger deficit raises concerns about its ability to finance imports and maintain stable economic growth. This statistic suggests that both countries need to focus on enhancing export competitiveness to improve their external balances and ensure sustainable economic development.
Turkey v Greece
In terms of the external balance on goods and services (% of GDP), Greece has a deficit of 7.71% while Turkey has a lower deficit of 3.10%. This indicates that Greece is more reliant on imports compared to its exports, putting a strain on its economy. On the other hand, Turkey also faces a deficit but to a lesser extent, showing a relatively better balance between imports and exports. The advantage for Greece is that it can access a diverse range of goods and services internationally, but the disadvantage is the financial strain of sustaining such high imports. For Turkey, the advantage lies in a more balanced trade position, but the disadvantage could be the vulnerability to external economic shocks. The external balance statistic directly impacts the development trajectory of each country, with Greece potentially facing more financial instability while Turkey may have a more sustainable trade position.
China v Japan
China, with an External balance on goods and services of 2.42% of GDP, portrays a strong export-oriented economy, indicating a trade surplus which enhances economic stability and growth through increased foreign reserves. In contrast, Japan shows a minor deficit in this area, with its balance at -0.27% of GDP, reflecting a reliance on imports. While China benefits from trade surpluses, it may face challenges such as trade tensions and accusations of currency manipulation. Conversely, Japan's deficit could signal potential vulnerability to external shocks and the need to focus on boosting domestic production. This statistic impacts China by underlining its competitive position globally and Japan by highlighting areas for improvement in trade dynamics.
FAQs
- Which country has the most positive External balance on goods and services (% of
GDP)?
Answer: Luxembourg has the highest External balance on goods and services at 33.97% of GDP. - Which country has the most negative External balance on goods and services (% of
GDP)?
Answer: Kiribati has the lowest External balance on goods and services at -71.32% of GDP. - What is the average External balance on goods and services (% of GDP) among the listed
countries?
Answer: The average External balance on goods and services among the listed countries is -5.97% of GDP. - How is External balance on goods and services calculated?
Answer: External balance on goods and services is determined by subtracting imports of goods and services from exports of goods and services. - What does a positive External balance on goods and services indicate for a
country?
Answer: A positive External balance on goods and services signifies that a country is exporting more goods and services than it is importing, which can contribute to economic growth and stability.