Tanzania Trade Balance
External balance on goods and services NE.RSB.GNFS.CD
Tanzania's trade balance was $-2.9B in 2025, ranked 130th globally. This represents a 101.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Tanzania's trade balance stood at $-2.9B in 2025, a decline of +$1.5B from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $-2.9B by 2025. Tanzania ranked 130th globally.
Tanzania’s trade balance has widened to a deficit of ‑2,940,061,678.99 in 2025, ranking it 130th globally among 36 years of data, a sharp deterioration from the modest surplus of 150,348,819.09 recorded in the 2002 peak. The deficit deepened after the all‑time trough of ‑4,841,541,685.71 reached in 2013, reflecting persistently higher import costs relative to export earnings. Compared with peer economies, Tanzania’s shortfall is larger than Guinea’s ‑2,702,478,130.18 but slightly less than the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ‑3,003,344,715.13, underscoring a regional pattern of trade imbalances driven by commodity price volatility and limited diversification. The early‑1990s deficit of ‑1,057,594,166.70 highlights a long‑term upward trajectory in the gap. Continued efforts to expand value‑added manufacturing and secure stable export markets will be crucial to reverse the widening deficit and alter the current trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $-3.6B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $-3.3B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $-2.9B | - | - |
| 2025 | $-2.9B | −$1.5B | #130 |
| 2024 | $-1.5B | +$1.6B | #57 |
| 2023 | $-3.0B | +$143.4M | #43 |
| 2022 | $-3.2B | −$2.0B | #52 |
| 2021 | $-1.2B | −$552.4M | #63 |
| 2020 | $-631.1M | −$54.4M | #79 |
| 2019 | $-576.8M | +$1.2B | #76 |
| 2018 | $-1.8B | −$852.5M | #57 |
| 2017 | $-951.3M | +$402.8M | #67 |
| 2016 | $-1.4B | +$1.8B | #66 |
| 2015 | $-3.1B | +$1.5B | #41 |
| 2014 | $-4.6B | +$234.0M | #29 |
| 2013 | $-4.8B | −$1.0B | #30 |
| 2012 | $-3.8B | +$653.7M | #39 |
| 2011 | $-4.5B | −$1.8B | #30 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Tanzania matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw trade balance improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Tanzania's trade balance was $-2.9B in 2025. Ranked 130th globally. This represents a 101.3% decrease from the previous year.
Tanzania's trade balance peaked at $150.3M in 2002.
The lowest trade balance in Tanzania was $-4.8B in 2013.
Tanzania ranks 130th globally in trade balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.RSB.GNFS.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Tanzania's trade balance is projected to reach $-2.9B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The trade balance of Tanzania in 2025 was $-2.9B. This ranks 130th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_tanzania_trade-balance,
title = {Tanzania Trade Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/tanzania/trade-balance/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}