External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Bahrain
Bahrain: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 17.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Bahrain, 1980–2024
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
Bahrain recorded 17.5% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Bahrain peaked at 24.8% in 2022 and was at its lowest, -10.9%, in 1992.
That places Bahrain 13th out of 191 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.8% | — |
| 1981 | 9.8% | +25.4% |
| 1982 | 10.7% | +9.7% |
| 1983 | 3.3% | -69.4% |
| 1984 | 2.3% | -29.2% |
| 1985 | 10.5% | +351.5% |
| 1986 | 12.2% | +16.5% |
| 1987 | 13.2% | +7.7% |
| 1988 | 15.7% | +19.2% |
| 1989 | 9.7% | -38.3% |
| 1990 | 18.4% | +90.2% |
| 1991 | -9.4% | -150.8% |
| 1992 | -10.9% | +16.2% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | -125.4% |
| 1994 | 6.3% | +129.2% |
| 1995 | 10.1% | +59.8% |
| 1996 | 10.3% | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 8.4% | -18.3% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -92.5% |
| 1999 | 14.0% | +2114.1% |
| 2000 | 22.6% | +61.2% |
| 2001 | 20.2% | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 13.9% | -31.3% |
| 2003 | 16.0% | +15.5% |
| 2004 | 16.5% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 19.5% | +18.2% |
| 2006 | 22.2% | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 21.6% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | -10.7% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 17.8% | -5.9% |
| 2011 | 23.7% | +33.1% |
| 2012 | 17.7% | -25.4% |
| 2013 | 17.1% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 15.9% | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | -32.1% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | -22.5% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | -9.0% |
| 2019 | 10.8% | +46.4% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | -49.4% |
| 2021 | 18.7% | +244.2% |
| 2022 | 24.8% | +32.2% |
| 2023 | 17.3% | -30.4% |
| 2024 | 17.5% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.5% | 2.3% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.1% | -10.9% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.1% | 13.9% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.8% | 7.4% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.7% | 5.4% | 24.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
More economy & growth data for Bahrain
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.99 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.81 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0942 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 2,883 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) -1.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1408 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 4,185 current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) -1.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 0.053 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Bahrain?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Bahrain was 17.5% 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 Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 24.8% in 2022.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.9% in 1992.
- How does Bahrain rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Bahrain ranks 13th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bahrain 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.