Communications, computer, etc. in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Communications, computer, etc. was 29.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Communications, computer, etc. in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service imports, BoP.
Analysis
In 2025, communications, computer, etc. in Saudi Arabia stood at 29.2%. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 42.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, communications, computer, etc. in Saudi Arabia peaked at 92.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 29.2%, in 2025.
That places Saudi Arabia 116th out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Communications, computer, etc. in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of service imports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 39.9% | — |
| 1972 | 38.9% | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 51.1% | +31.6% |
| 1974 | 63.0% | +23.3% |
| 1975 | 64.8% | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 61.1% | -5.8% |
| 1977 | 57.6% | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 54.7% | -5.0% |
| 1979 | 72.9% | +33.2% |
| 1980 | 73.3% | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 76.6% | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 82.2% | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 83.9% | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 84.4% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 87.4% | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 89.9% | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 90.3% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 86.7% | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 90.3% | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 88.5% | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 92.0% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 90.6% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 90.5% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 89.0% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 87.4% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 90.1% | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 90.9% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 85.3% | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 87.7% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 90.1% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 86.6% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 86.7% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 85.4% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 85.6% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 45.2% | -47.2% |
| 2006 | 51.3% | +13.6% |
| 2007 | 51.1% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 59.6% | +16.6% |
| 2009 | 52.7% | -11.6% |
| 2010 | 51.1% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 52.1% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 46.5% | -10.9% |
| 2013 | 46.2% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 51.7% | +11.9% |
| 2015 | 50.5% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 47.8% | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 51.3% | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 54.8% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 54.7% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 57.0% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 46.9% | -17.8% |
| 2022 | 49.0% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 44.4% | -9.5% |
| 2024 | 31.9% | -28.0% |
| 2025 | 29.2% | -8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56.0% | 38.9% | 72.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 84.5% | 73.3% | 90.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 89.2% | 85.3% | 92.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.4% | 45.2% | 90.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.7% | 46.2% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.1% | 29.2% | 57.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2241 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 7,740 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 6.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2817 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 9,730 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 6.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1.06 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is communications, computer, etc. in Saudi Arabia?
- Communications, computer, etc. in Saudi Arabia was 29.2% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest communications, computer, etc. recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 92.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest communications, computer, etc. recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.2% in 2025.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for communications, computer, etc.?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 116th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is communications, computer, etc. rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Communications, computer, etc. (% of service imports, BoP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Communications, computer, information, and other services cover international telecommunications; computer data; news-related service transactions between residents and nonresidents; construction services; royalties and license fees; miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services; personal, cultural, and recreational services; manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others; and maintenance and repair services and government services not included elsewhere. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are services provided by non-residents to residents.