External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 1.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Saudi Arabia, 1968–2025
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 Saudi Arabia stood at 1.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.7% on the previous year and up 137.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Saudi Arabia peaked at 78.8% in 1973 and was at its lowest, -10.7%, in 1984.
That places Saudi Arabia 66th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 23.0% | — |
| 1969 | 23.2% | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 29.2% | +25.8% |
| 1971 | 36.1% | +23.4% |
| 1972 | 43.3% | +20.1% |
| 1973 | 78.8% | +81.9% |
| 1974 | 49.7% | -36.9% |
| 1975 | 51.6% | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 35.5% | -31.2% |
| 1977 | 24.9% | -29.9% |
| 1978 | 7.7% | -68.9% |
| 1979 | 20.6% | +167.0% |
| 1980 | 36.2% | +75.4% |
| 1981 | 32.7% | -9.5% |
| 1982 | 11.6% | -64.5% |
| 1983 | -9.2% | -179.3% |
| 1984 | -10.7% | +16.2% |
| 1985 | -6.6% | -38.6% |
| 1986 | -9.1% | +38.2% |
| 1987 | -6.3% | -31.0% |
| 1988 | -3.9% | -38.1% |
| 1989 | -4.3% | +11.7% |
| 1990 | 9.0% | -306.9% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | -78.6% |
| 1992 | 3.1% | +62.8% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | -71.2% |
| 1994 | 7.9% | +782.5% |
| 1995 | 9.6% | +21.5% |
| 1996 | 13.4% | +39.0% |
| 1997 | 13.1% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | -75.8% |
| 1999 | 11.5% | +261.6% |
| 2000 | 18.6% | +62.3% |
| 2001 | 15.7% | -15.8% |
| 2002 | 17.3% | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 21.9% | +26.4% |
| 2004 | 26.9% | +22.9% |
| 2005 | 32.1% | +19.6% |
| 2006 | 29.7% | -7.6% |
| 2007 | 25.0% | -15.8% |
| 2008 | 28.1% | +12.4% |
| 2009 | 9.3% | -66.9% |
| 2010 | 16.6% | +78.0% |
| 2011 | 26.2% | +57.9% |
| 2012 | 24.5% | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 20.5% | -16.3% |
| 2014 | 12.2% | -40.5% |
| 2015 | -4.2% | -134.7% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -108.6% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | +1324.7% |
| 2018 | 11.9% | +129.9% |
| 2019 | 7.5% | -37.0% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -98.9% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | +8490.2% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | +103.9% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | -62.3% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -58.5% |
| 2025 | 1.6% | -33.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 23.1% | 23.0% | 23.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 37.7% | 7.7% | 78.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | -10.7% | 36.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 0.9% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.5% | 9.3% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.1% | -4.2% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.4% | 0.1% | 15.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Saudi Arabia?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Saudi Arabia was 1.6% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 78.8% in 1973.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.7% in 1984.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 66th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 137.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.