External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Syria
Syria: 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 Syria, 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 Syria 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 Syria peaked at 7.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, -40.2%, in 2014.
That places Syria 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 Syria, 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% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's -21.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is -11.3%, 1.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Syria'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 Syria 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 Syria
More economy & growth data for Syria
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -41.81 % change on previous year (2010)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0316 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 30.15 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0176 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0237 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 22.01 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0165 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 15.69 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Syria?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Syria 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 Syria?
- 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 Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was -40.2% in 2014.
- How does Syria rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Syria 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 Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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.