Annual growth of imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Annual growth of imports of goods and services was 5.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth of imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia, 2001–2024
Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 5.3% for annual growth of imports of goods and services in 2024.
That represents a change of down 45.5% on the previous year and down 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia peaked at 35.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -19.9%, in 2020.
Saudi Arabia ranks 68th of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth of imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -4.9% | — |
| 2002 | -0.4% | -91.6% |
| 2003 | 13.6% | -3414.6% |
| 2004 | 14.9% | +9.9% |
| 2005 | 28.6% | +91.3% |
| 2006 | 35.0% | +22.4% |
| 2007 | 23.1% | -33.8% |
| 2008 | 10.5% | -54.6% |
| 2009 | -6.3% | -160.4% |
| 2010 | 6.6% | -203.5% |
| 2011 | 9.5% | +44.4% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | -18.1% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -52.4% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | +113.0% |
| 2015 | -2.5% | -131.5% |
| 2016 | -18.1% | +630.2% |
| 2017 | -0.1% | -99.2% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -1866.7% |
| 2019 | 9.8% | +271.3% |
| 2020 | -19.9% | -302.5% |
| 2021 | 8.6% | -143.2% |
| 2022 | 12.2% | +41.3% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | -19.8% |
| 2024 | 5.3% | -45.5% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 5.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.5%, 2.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 5.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.0%, 1.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth of imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +3414.6% | -0.4% | 13.6% |
| 2018 | +1866.7% | -0.1% | 2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.7% | -6.3% | 35.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | -18.1% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | -19.9% | 12.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 65 United States of America 5.8% compare
- 66 Montenegro 5.7% compare
- 67 Malta 5.3% compare
- 69 Belarus 5.2% compare
- 70 Republic of Moldova 5.2% compare
- 71 Congo 5.0% compare
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth of imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia?
- Annual growth of imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia was 5.3% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of imports of goods and services recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest annual growth of imports of goods and services recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -19.9% in 2020.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for annual growth of imports of goods and services?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 68th out of 176 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual growth of imports of goods and services rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of imports of goods and services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual growth of imports of goods and services (%).