External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Yemen
Yemen: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -38.6% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Yemen, 1990–2018
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 2018, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Yemen stood at -38.6%. That is the lowest value across all 29 years on record.
The figure is down 63.5% on the previous year and down 592.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Yemen peaked at 10.6% in 1994 and was at its lowest, -38.6%, in 2018.
That places Yemen 177th out of 191 countries with data for 2018, 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 Yemen, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -5.3% | — |
| 1991 | -12.6% | +137.7% |
| 1992 | -13.7% | +9.2% |
| 1993 | -18.3% | +33.2% |
| 1994 | 10.6% | -157.9% |
| 1995 | 3.5% | -66.7% |
| 1996 | -8.9% | -353.0% |
| 1997 | -7.6% | -15.1% |
| 1998 | -19.6% | +158.3% |
| 1999 | -2.3% | -88.1% |
| 2000 | 7.4% | -417.3% |
| 2001 | 0.9% | -87.8% |
| 2002 | -0.7% | -180.8% |
| 2003 | -1.5% | +106.6% |
| 2004 | 0.9% | -161.0% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | +446.7% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | -91.2% |
| 2007 | -7.3% | -1759.3% |
| 2008 | -5.6% | -23.9% |
| 2009 | -11.4% | +105.0% |
| 2010 | -4.4% | -61.5% |
| 2011 | -2.4% | -45.9% |
| 2012 | -11.6% | +389.1% |
| 2013 | -7.8% | -33.0% |
| 2014 | -5.3% | -32.3% |
| 2015 | -12.3% | +132.5% |
| 2016 | -21.5% | +75.0% |
| 2017 | -23.6% | +9.9% |
| 2018 | -38.6% | +63.5% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's -38.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is -11.3%, 3.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Yemen's -38.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -5.3%, 7.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Yemen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | -1759.3% | 0.4% | -7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -7.4% | -19.6% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.2% | -11.4% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | -14.2% | -38.6% | -2.4% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More economy & growth data for Yemen
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.38 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 3.33 million BoP, current US$ (2019)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0002 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.0949 BoP, current US$ per person (2019)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -370.98 million BoP, current US$ (2019)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -31.51 % change on previous year (2019)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0131 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -10.57 BoP, current US$ per person (2019)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -25.9 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Yemen?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Yemen was -38.6% in 2018, 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 10.6% in 1994.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was -38.6% in 2018.
- How does Yemen rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Yemen ranks 177th out of 191 countries with data for 2018.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is down 592.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Yemen 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.