External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Qatar
Qatar: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 37.0% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Qatar, 1980–2022
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
Qatar recorded 37.0% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2022.
The figure is up 49.9% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Qatar peaked at 47.6% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1995.
That places Qatar 3rd out of 191 countries with data for 2022, 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 Qatar, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 47.6% | — |
| 1981 | 39.3% | -17.5% |
| 1982 | 25.1% | -36.2% |
| 1983 | 18.9% | -24.6% |
| 1984 | 23.6% | +25.2% |
| 1985 | 21.8% | -7.6% |
| 1986 | 6.3% | -71.0% |
| 1987 | 9.2% | +45.9% |
| 1988 | 9.3% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 13.7% | +46.9% |
| 1990 | 21.3% | +55.5% |
| 1991 | 13.9% | -34.9% |
| 1992 | 15.5% | +11.5% |
| 1993 | 11.4% | -26.3% |
| 1994 | 11.1% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | -90.9% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | +290.6% |
| 1997 | 12.1% | +207.3% |
| 1998 | 11.1% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 34.3% | +208.5% |
| 2000 | 45.0% | +30.9% |
| 2001 | 36.8% | -18.1% |
| 2002 | 32.2% | -12.5% |
| 2003 | 33.2% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 38.0% | +14.2% |
| 2005 | 35.4% | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 27.1% | -23.6% |
| 2007 | 24.4% | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 33.3% | +36.2% |
| 2009 | 22.1% | -33.5% |
| 2010 | 38.6% | +74.3% |
| 2011 | 46.5% | +20.6% |
| 2012 | 47.2% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 43.1% | -8.8% |
| 2014 | 37.0% | -14.1% |
| 2015 | 20.4% | -44.8% |
| 2016 | 5.9% | -71.2% |
| 2017 | 14.3% | +142.9% |
| 2018 | 20.0% | +40.3% |
| 2019 | 14.3% | -28.5% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | -42.7% |
| 2021 | 24.7% | +200.2% |
| 2022 | 37.0% | +49.9% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 37.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 16.5× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 37.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -5.3%. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Qatar changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +290.6% | 1.0% | 3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.5% | 6.3% | 47.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.6% | 1.0% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.8% | 22.1% | 45.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.7% | 5.9% | 47.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.3% | 8.2% | 37.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
- 1 Macao 45.4% compare
- 2 Ireland 40.2% compare
- 4 Singapore 35.4% compare
- 5 Luxembourg 31.2% compare
- 6 San Marino 31.0% compare
More economy & growth data for Qatar
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.9074 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.61 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0063 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 456.7 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.6747 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0046 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 333.48 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0035 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Qatar?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Qatar was 37.0% in 2022, 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 Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 47.6% in 1980.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1995.
- How does Qatar rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Qatar ranks 3rd out of 191 countries with data for 2022.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Qatar 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.