External balance on goods and services in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: External balance on goods and services was -1.27 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Sri Lanka, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded -1.27 trillion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
The figure is down 61.7% on the previous year and down 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Sri Lanka peaked at 1.33 billion current LCU in 1977 and was at its lowest, -1.30 trillion current LCU, in 2021.
Sri Lanka ranks 166th of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -221.43 million current LCU | -728.00 million current LCU | 33.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.27 billion current LCU | -6.31 billion current LCU | 1.33 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -18.37 billion current LCU | -23.92 billion current LCU | -9.13 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -56.69 billion current LCU | -86.09 billion current LCU | -25.36 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -244.97 billion current LCU | -603.65 billion current LCU | -87.77 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -928.65 billion current LCU | -1.06 trillion current LCU | -824.87 billion current LCU | 5 |
| 2020s | -961.61 billion current LCU | -1.30 trillion current LCU | -591.71 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- DEC alternative conversion factor 300.95 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 2.39 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 7.96 billion current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 3.79 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 12.59 billion current US$ (2025)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) -608.65 billion current LCU (2025)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) -2.02 billion current US$ (2025)
- GNI per capita 1.48 million current LCU (2025)
- GNI per capita, Atlas method 4,670 current US$ (2025)
- GNI 32.14 trillion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Sri Lanka?
- External balance on goods and services in Sri Lanka was -1.27 trillion current LCU 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1.33 billion current LCU in 1977.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.30 trillion current LCU in 2021.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Sri Lanka ranks 166th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 (current LCU). 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 in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.