External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -21.9% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Syrian Arab Republic, 1960–2022
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
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Syrian Arab Republic is -21.9%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 24.8% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Syrian Arab Republic peaked at 7.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, -40.2%, in 2014.
That places Syrian Arab Republic 159th out of 191 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 Syrian Arab Republic, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -6.4% | — |
| 1961 | -4.8% | -25.7% |
| 1962 | -0.6% | -86.8% |
| 1963 | -1.7% | +176.8% |
| 1964 | -2.5% | +43.4% |
| 1965 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1966 | -5.3% | -7524194.7% |
| 1967 | -3.4% | -36.2% |
| 1968 | -3.2% | -7.3% |
| 1969 | -4.6% | +45.2% |
| 1970 | -3.6% | -22.3% |
| 1971 | -5.0% | +40.3% |
| 1972 | -5.6% | +11.4% |
| 1973 | -3.7% | -33.2% |
| 1974 | -9.7% | +160.3% |
| 1975 | -12.6% | +30.0% |
| 1976 | -14.8% | +17.6% |
| 1977 | -22.5% | +52.3% |
| 1978 | -16.4% | -27.2% |
| 1979 | -16.9% | +3.0% |
| 1980 | -17.2% | +2.0% |
| 1981 | -17.3% | +0.7% |
| 1982 | -11.0% | -36.4% |
| 1983 | -13.4% | +21.8% |
| 1984 | -11.6% | -13.7% |
| 1985 | -13.5% | +16.5% |
| 1986 | -11.0% | -18.6% |
| 1987 | -13.3% | +20.9% |
| 1988 | -9.2% | -30.5% |
| 1989 | -0.0% | -99.7% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | -1329.1% |
| 1991 | -7.7% | -2074.8% |
| 1992 | -11.4% | +48.3% |
| 1993 | -13.0% | +14.6% |
| 1994 | -12.3% | -5.4% |
| 1995 | -6.9% | -44.1% |
| 1996 | -6.3% | -9.2% |
| 1997 | -1.4% | -77.9% |
| 1998 | -0.4% | -73.5% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -188.7% |
| 2000 | 6.9% | +2036.9% |
| 2001 | 6.5% | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +21.1% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | -63.3% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | -29.9% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | +95.6% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | -78.8% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | +10.7% |
| 2009 | -1.8% | -303.6% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -117.7% |
| 2011 | -12.0% | -3797.3% |
| 2012 | -19.9% | +66.8% |
| 2013 | -29.1% | +46.2% |
| 2014 | -40.2% | +38.0% |
| 2015 | -22.5% | -44.1% |
| 2016 | -23.8% | +5.5% |
| 2017 | -22.4% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | -20.8% | -6.9% |
| 2019 | -16.0% | -23.3% |
| 2020 | -16.8% | +5.2% |
| 2021 | -29.1% | +73.1% |
| 2022 | -21.9% | -24.8% |
Syrian Arab Republic compared with similar countries
- Syrian Arab Republic's -21.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is -11.3%, 1.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Syrian Arab Republic's -21.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -5.3%, 4.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Syrian Arab Republic 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | -7524194.7% | 0.0% | -5.3% |
| 2011 | -3797.3% | 0.3% | -12.0% |
| 1991 | -2074.8% | 0.4% | -7.7% |
| 2000 | +2036.9% | 0.3% | 6.9% |
| 1990 | +1329.1% | -0.0% | 0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -3.3% | -6.4% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | -11.1% | -22.5% | -3.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | -11.8% | -17.3% | -0.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | -5.9% | -13.0% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | -1.8% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | -20.6% | -40.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -22.6% | -29.1% | -16.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Syrian Arab Republic
More economy & growth data for Syrian Arab Republic
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 0 BoP, current US$ (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0 BoP, current US$ per person (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 804.16 million BoP, current US$ (2011)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -45.27 % change on previous year (2011)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0119 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2011)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 35.15 BoP, current US$ per person (2011)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 12.74 % change on previous year (2010)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3361 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2010)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 917.69 includes gold, current US$ per person (2010)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Syrian Arab Republic?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Syrian Arab Republic was -21.9% 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 Syrian Arab Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 7.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Syrian Arab Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was -40.2% in 2014.
- How does Syrian Arab Republic rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Syrian Arab Republic ranks 159th out of 191 countries with data for 2022.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Syrian Arab Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syrian Arab Republic 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.