South Korea vs Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): External balance on goods and services
External balance on goods and services over time
- South Korea
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 5.2% against -9.7% in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), a difference of 14.9%.
The two have swapped places 11 times across 66 shared years of data; in 1960 it was Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ahead.
South Korea ranks 39th and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 42nd of 193 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, South Korea averaged higher in 5 and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Korea | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -10.0% | -2.9% | 7.2% | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) |
| 1970s | -6.5% | 0.8% | 7.2% | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) |
| 1980s | -0.5% | -8.0% | 7.4% | South Korea |
| 1990s | 0.6% | -4.5% | 5.0% | South Korea |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 0.4% | South Korea |
| 2010s | 3.9% | -4.3% | 8.2% | South Korea |
| 2020s | 2.8% | -6.2% | 8.9% | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher external balance on goods and services, South Korea or Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- South Korea, at 5.2% against -9.7% in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) as of 2025.
- What is the difference in external balance on goods and services between South Korea and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- 14.9%, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Korea and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do South Korea and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank globally for external balance on goods and services?
- South Korea ranks 39th and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 42nd of 193 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as External balance on goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.