Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) was -1.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Current account balance as a proportion of GDP in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for current account balance as a proportion of gdp in Saudi Arabia is -1.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 161.6% on the previous year and down 113.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current account balance as a proportion of gdp in Saudi Arabia peaked at 27.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -7.9%, in 2015.
Saudi Arabia ranks 108th of 205 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.
Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.6% | — |
| 2001 | 5.1% | -32.8% |
| 2002 | 6.3% | +23.3% |
| 2003 | 13.0% | +107.5% |
| 2004 | 20.1% | +54.4% |
| 2005 | 27.1% | +34.9% |
| 2006 | 27.4% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 24.5% | -10.6% |
| 2008 | 27.8% | +13.4% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | -78.9% |
| 2010 | 13.5% | +130.1% |
| 2011 | 23.9% | +76.3% |
| 2012 | 22.8% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 18.3% | -19.8% |
| 2014 | 9.9% | -46.2% |
| 2015 | -7.9% | -180.5% |
| 2016 | -3.9% | -50.7% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | -131.3% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | +544.6% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -53.9% |
| 2020 | -4.5% | -223.9% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | -201.2% |
| 2022 | 11.7% | +156.7% |
| 2023 | 2.1% | -81.8% |
| 2024 | -1.3% | -161.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's -1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.6%. (69 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's -1.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -0.2%, 5.6× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.5% | 5.1% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.9% | -7.9% | 23.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | -4.5% | 11.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 69.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0168 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 580.45 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.3713 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0123 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 423.84 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.52 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current account balance as a proportion of gdp in Saudi Arabia?
- Current account balance as a proportion of gdp in Saudi Arabia was -1.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest current account balance as a proportion of gdp recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest current account balance as a proportion of gdp recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.9% in 2015.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for current account balance as a proportion of gdp?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 108th out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is current account balance as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 113.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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