External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -52.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Afghanistan, 2020–2024
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Afghanistan is -52.4%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 51.6% on the previous year and down 102.4% over five years.
That places Afghanistan 186th out of 191 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -25.9% | — |
| 2021 | -22.7% | -12.1% |
| 2022 | -36.1% | +59.0% |
| 2023 | -34.5% | -4.4% |
| 2024 | -52.4% | +51.6% |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 183 Marshall Islands -43.8% compare
- 184 Northern Mariana Islands -48.6%
- 185 Micronesia, Federated States of -48.8% compare
- 187 Lesotho -54.9% compare
- 188 Guam -56.1%
- 189 Somalia -69.6% compare
More economy & growth data for Afghanistan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.59 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -6.24 Percent per annum (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 30.79 million BoP, current US$ (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.7698 BoP, current US$ per person (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 20.60 million BoP, current US$ (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 58.83 % change on previous year (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0014 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.515 BoP, current US$ per person (2021)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 14.73 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Afghanistan?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Afghanistan was -52.4% in 2024, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was -22.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -52.4% in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Afghanistan ranks 186th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.