External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth was -32.52 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth in Saudi Arabia, 1969–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded -32.52 % change on previous year for external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth in 2025.
That represents a change of up 43.3% on the previous year and up 75.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth in Saudi Arabia peaked at 797.14 % change on previous year in 1994 and was at its lowest, -167.36 % change on previous year, in 1983.
That places Saudi Arabia 146th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, 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 (current LCU), annual growth in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 8.18 % change on previous year | — |
| 1970 | 50.76 % change on previous year | +520.4% |
| 1971 | 64.34 % change on previous year | +26.7% |
| 1972 | 49.21 % change on previous year | -23.5% |
| 1973 | 151.61 % change on previous year | +208.1% |
| 1974 | 83.68 % change on previous year | -44.8% |
| 1975 | 5.89 % change on previous year | -93.0% |
| 1976 | -5.58 % change on previous year | -194.8% |
| 1977 | -18.89 % change on previous year | +238.4% |
| 1978 | -67.6 % change on previous year | +257.8% |
| 1979 | 267.9 % change on previous year | -496.3% |
| 1980 | 155.4 % change on previous year | -42.0% |
| 1981 | 3.08 % change on previous year | -98.0% |
| 1982 | -70.09 % change on previous year | -2377.1% |
| 1983 | -167.36 % change on previous year | +138.8% |
| 1984 | -9.77 % change on previous year | -94.2% |
| 1985 | 45.18 % change on previous year | -562.4% |
| 1986 | -18.28 % change on previous year | -140.5% |
| 1987 | 31.2 % change on previous year | -270.6% |
| 1988 | 36.29 % change on previous year | +16.3% |
| 1989 | -20.64 % change on previous year | -156.9% |
| 1990 | 355.24 % change on previous year | -1821.3% |
| 1991 | -75.95 % change on previous year | -121.4% |
| 1992 | 68.78 % change on previous year | -190.6% |
| 1993 | -72.08 % change on previous year | -204.8% |
| 1994 | 797.14 % change on previous year | -1206.0% |
| 1995 | 28.82 % change on previous year | -96.4% |
| 1996 | 53.86 % change on previous year | +86.9% |
| 1997 | 2.55 % change on previous year | -95.3% |
| 1998 | -78.58 % change on previous year | -3181.6% |
| 1999 | 298.45 % change on previous year | -479.8% |
| 2000 | 90.21 % change on previous year | -69.8% |
| 2001 | -18.14 % change on previous year | -120.1% |
| 2002 | 13.45 % change on previous year | -174.1% |
| 2003 | 43.89 % change on previous year | +226.4% |
| 2004 | 47.36 % change on previous year | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 51.66 % change on previous year | +9.1% |
| 2006 | 6.02 % change on previous year | -88.3% |
| 2007 | -7.06 % change on previous year | -217.2% |
| 2008 | 40.59 % change on previous year | -675.3% |
| 2009 | -72.64 % change on previous year | -279.0% |
| 2010 | 119.14 % change on previous year | -264.0% |
| 2011 | 103.41 % change on previous year | -13.2% |
| 2012 | 3.35 % change on previous year | -96.8% |
| 2013 | -14.37 % change on previous year | -529.1% |
| 2014 | -39.17 % change on previous year | +172.6% |
| 2015 | -130.53 % change on previous year | +233.3% |
| 2016 | 108.58 % change on previous year | -183.2% |
| 2018 | 174.97 % change on previous year | +61.1% |
| 2019 | -36.81 % change on previous year | -121.0% |
| 2020 | -99.01 % change on previous year | +169.0% |
| 2022 | 157.13 % change on previous year | -258.7% |
| 2023 | -62.89 % change on previous year | -140.0% |
| 2024 | -57.3 % change on previous year | -8.9% |
| 2025 | -32.52 % change on previous year | -43.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's -32.52 % change on previous year is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.3851 % change on previous year. (72 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's -32.52 % change on previous year is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -18.48 % change on previous year, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -3181.6% | 2.55 % change on previous year | -78.58 % change on previous year |
| 1982 | -2377.1% | 3.08 % change on previous year | -70.09 % change on previous year |
| 1990 | +1821.3% | -20.64 % change on previous year | 355.24 % change on previous year |
| 1994 | +1206.0% | -72.08 % change on previous year | 797.14 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.18 % change on previous year | 8.18 % change on previous year | 8.18 % change on previous year | 1 |
| 1970s | 58.13 % change on previous year | -67.6 % change on previous year | 267.9 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.5 % change on previous year | -167.36 % change on previous year | 155.4 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 137.82 % change on previous year | -78.58 % change on previous year | 797.14 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.53 % change on previous year | -72.64 % change on previous year | 90.21 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.06 % change on previous year | -130.53 % change on previous year | 174.97 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2020s | -18.92 % change on previous year | -99.01 % change on previous year | 157.13 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 143 Sierra Leone -30.62 % change on previous year compare
- 144 Gabon -30.8 % change on previous year compare
- 145 Kyrgyzstan -32.47 % change on previous year compare
- 147 South Sudan -33.01 % change on previous year compare
- 148 Russia -33.51 % change on previous year compare
- 149 Antigua and Barbuda -34.48 % change on previous year compare
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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0168 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 580.45 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.3713 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0123 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 423.84 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth in Saudi Arabia?
- External balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth in Saudi Arabia was -32.52 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 797.14 % change on previous year in 1994.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -167.36 % change on previous year in 1983.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 146th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- External balance on goods and services Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.