External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was -660.71 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Afghanistan, 1960–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Afghanistan is -660.71 billion current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 41.6% on the previous year and down 66.4% over five years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Afghanistan peaked at -700.00 million current LCU in 1960 and was at its lowest, -660.71 billion current LCU, in 2024.
Afghanistan ranks 160th of 193 countries on this measure, 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) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -700.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | -900.00 million current LCU | +28.6% |
| 1962 | -1.10 billion current LCU | +22.2% |
| 1963 | -2.60 billion current LCU | +136.4% |
| 1964 | -3.30 billion current LCU | +26.9% |
| 1965 | -4.60 billion current LCU | +39.4% |
| 1966 | -6.30 billion current LCU | +37.0% |
| 1967 | -5.60 billion current LCU | -11.1% |
| 1968 | -3.90 billion current LCU | -30.4% |
| 1969 | -3.10 billion current LCU | -20.5% |
| 1970 | -1.70 billion current LCU | -45.2% |
| 1971 | -4.30 billion current LCU | +152.9% |
| 1972 | -2.40 billion current LCU | -44.2% |
| 1973 | -1.40 billion current LCU | -41.7% |
| 1974 | -800.00 million current LCU | -42.9% |
| 1975 | -1.70 billion current LCU | +112.5% |
| 1976 | -1.90 billion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 1977 | -4.20 billion current LCU | +121.1% |
| 1978 | -4.50 billion current LCU | +7.1% |
| 2020 | -397.07 billion current LCU | +8723.8% |
| 2021 | -284.36 billion current LCU | -28.4% |
| 2022 | -463.65 billion current LCU | +63.1% |
| 2023 | -466.46 billion current LCU | +0.6% |
| 2024 | -660.71 billion current LCU | +41.6% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's -660.71 billion current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is -480.38 billion current LCU, 1.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's -660.71 billion current LCU is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -4.55 billion current LCU, 145.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -8723.8% | -4.50 billion current LCU | -397.07 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -3.21 billion current LCU | -6.30 billion current LCU | -700.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.54 billion current LCU | -4.50 billion current LCU | -800.00 million current LCU | 9 |
| 2020s | -454.45 billion current LCU | -660.71 billion current LCU | -284.36 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More economy & growth data for Afghanistan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.59 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -6.24 Percent per annum (2022)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0237 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 9.26 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -8.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0182 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 6.76 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 0.0237 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Afghanistan?
- External balance on goods and services in Afghanistan was -660.71 billion current LCU in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was -700.00 million current LCU in 1960.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -660.71 billion current LCU in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Afghanistan ranks 160th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.