External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -8.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-8.7%
Change on year
down 76.1%
World rank
127th
of 191 countries
All-time high
23.3%
in 1974
All-time low
-16.5%
in 1991
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1960–2025
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
In 2025, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Iran, Islamic Republic of stood at -8.7%.
That represents a change of down 76.1% on the previous year and down 340.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 23.3% in 1974 and was at its lowest, -16.5%, in 1991.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 127th of 191 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.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -3.5% | — |
| 1961 | -2.1% | -39.8% |
| 1962 | 0.8% | -138.4% |
| 1963 | 2.9% | +250.7% |
| 1964 | 0.1% | -97.6% |
| 1965 | -0.3% | -579.3% |
| 1966 | -1.3% | +305.0% |
| 1967 | -2.4% | +79.2% |
| 1968 | -3.0% | +28.4% |
| 1969 | -3.0% | -0.4% |
| 1970 | -2.7% | -9.5% |
| 1971 | 1.8% | -165.1% |
| 1972 | 1.4% | -19.1% |
| 1973 | 12.8% | +786.8% |
| 1974 | 23.3% | +82.6% |
| 1975 | 5.4% | -77.1% |
| 1976 | 9.0% | +67.6% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | -81.0% |
| 1978 | 1.3% | -26.3% |
| 1979 | 10.7% | +751.9% |
| 1980 | -15.0% | -240.5% |
| 1981 | -15.6% | +3.8% |
| 1982 | -3.9% | -75.1% |
| 1983 | -9.7% | +148.8% |
| 1984 | -5.3% | -45.1% |
| 1985 | -5.4% | +1.8% |
| 1986 | -6.7% | +23.6% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | -106.4% |
| 1988 | -7.0% | -1731.3% |
| 1989 | -8.3% | +18.1% |
| 1990 | -10.5% | +27.1% |
| 1991 | -16.5% | +57.2% |
| 1992 | -14.1% | -15.0% |
| 1993 | 4.8% | -134.0% |
| 1994 | 15.0% | +213.1% |
| 1995 | 8.2% | -45.1% |
| 1996 | 5.2% | -37.0% |
| 1997 | 1.9% | -63.1% |
| 1998 | -3.9% | -302.6% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | -195.8% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | -54.7% |
| 2001 | -1.9% | -215.0% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -134.0% |
| 2003 | -1.4% | -317.4% |
| 2004 | -0.8% | -45.2% |
| 2005 | 6.2% | -897.6% |
| 2006 | 6.6% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 7.8% | +18.7% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -36.9% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | -65.0% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | +191.8% |
| 2011 | 8.6% | +72.0% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -90.0% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +280.7% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -90.5% |
| 2015 | -2.0% | -739.2% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -137.5% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -31.3% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | +422.2% |
| 2019 | -4.0% | -248.7% |
| 2020 | -7.1% | +79.3% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | -119.2% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | +62.1% |
| 2023 | -1.6% | -170.0% |
| 2024 | -5.0% | +219.9% |
| 2025 | -8.7% | +76.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.2% | -3.5% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.5% | -2.7% | 23.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | -7.6% | -15.6% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.6% | -16.5% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | -1.9% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | -4.0% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.1% | -8.7% | 2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
More economy & growth data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.48 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 89.42 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0002 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.9766 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 1.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 15.83 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 130.68 % change on previous year (1982)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Iran, Islamic Republic of was -8.7% in 2025, 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 Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 23.3% in 1974.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.5% in 1991.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 127th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is down 340.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of 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.