Ireland Trade Balance
External balance on goods and services NE.RSB.GNFS.CD
Ireland's trade balance was $285.2B in 2025, ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 12.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Ireland's trade balance stood at $285.2B in 2025, a rise of +$30.6B from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $285.2B by 2025. Ireland ranked 2nd globally.
Ireland’s trade balance has swung dramatically over the 56‑year record, moving from a deficit of ‑2,981,858,478.40 in 1979 – the all‑time trough – to a surplus of 285,202,025,016.60 in 2025, which is both the latest figure and the all‑time peak, ranking the country second globally. The reversal reflects a sustained expansion of export‑oriented sectors such as pharmaceuticals, technology services and agri‑food, coupled with a depreciation of the euro that enhanced price competitiveness after the 2008 financial crisis. By contrast, China posted a far larger surplus of 546,214,422,316.92, while Singapore’s surplus of 229,393,049,621.51 underscores the scale of advanced, trade‑dependent economies. Ireland’s surplus now exceeds that of Germany (147,008,193,452.62) and the Netherlands (133,515,071,565.84), signalling a deepening integration into global value chains. Should global demand for high‑value Irish exports remain robust and supply‑chain resilience improve, the positive trade‑balance trajectory is likely to persist, albeit with sensitivity to exchange‑rate fluctuations and external demand shocks.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $344.3B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $314.8B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $285.2B | - | - |
| 2025 | $285.2B | +$30.6B | #2 |
| 2024 | $254.6B | +$65.1B | #156 |
| 2023 | $189.5B | −$36.7B | #169 |
| 2022 | $226.2B | +$4.7B | #177 |
| 2021 | $221.5B | +$130.6B | #177 |
| 2020 | $90.9B | +$71.3B | #177 |
| 2019 | $19.5B | −$97.2B | #159 |
| 2018 | $116.7B | +$34.2B | #179 |
| 2017 | $82.5B | +$25.6B | #176 |
| 2016 | $57.0B | −$32.7B | #172 |
| 2015 | $89.6B | +$39.0B | #178 |
| 2014 | $50.7B | +$2.7B | #167 |
| 2013 | $48.0B | +$8.7B | #164 |
| 2012 | $39.2B | −$5.4B | #165 |
| 2011 | $44.6B | +$7.9B | #163 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ireland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw trade balance improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ireland's trade balance was $285.2B in 2025. Ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 12.0% increase from the previous year.
Ireland's trade balance peaked at $285.2B in 2025.
The lowest trade balance in Ireland was $-3.0B in 1979.
Ireland ranks 2nd globally in trade balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.RSB.GNFS.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ireland's trade balance is projected to reach $285.2B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Ireland's trade balance was approximately 285.2 billion ($285.2B) in 2025.
The trade balance of Ireland in 2025 was $285.2B. This ranks 2nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ireland_trade-balance,
title = {Ireland Trade Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ireland/trade-balance/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}