External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was 75.25 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Saudi Arabia, 1968–2025
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 Saudi Arabia is 75.25 billion current LCU, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 32.5% on the previous year and up 168.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Saudi Arabia peaked at 703.76 billion current LCU in 2022 and was at its lowest, -109.86 billion current LCU, in 2015.
Saudi Arabia ranks 42nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 4.34 billion current LCU | — |
| 1969 | 4.69 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 1970 | 7.08 billion current LCU | +50.8% |
| 1971 | 11.63 billion current LCU | +64.3% |
| 1972 | 17.35 billion current LCU | +49.2% |
| 1973 | 43.65 billion current LCU | +151.6% |
| 1974 | 80.18 billion current LCU | +83.7% |
| 1975 | 84.90 billion current LCU | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 80.16 billion current LCU | -5.6% |
| 1977 | 65.01 billion current LCU | -18.9% |
| 1978 | 21.06 billion current LCU | -67.6% |
| 1979 | 77.49 billion current LCU | +267.9% |
| 1980 | 197.91 billion current LCU | +155.4% |
| 1981 | 204.00 billion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 61.01 billion current LCU | -70.1% |
| 1983 | -41.09 billion current LCU | -167.4% |
| 1984 | -45.11 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1985 | -24.73 billion current LCU | -45.2% |
| 1986 | -29.25 billion current LCU | +18.3% |
| 1987 | -20.12 billion current LCU | -31.2% |
| 1988 | -12.82 billion current LCU | -36.3% |
| 1989 | -15.47 billion current LCU | +20.6% |
| 1990 | 39.48 billion current LCU | -355.2% |
| 1991 | 9.49 billion current LCU | -75.9% |
| 1992 | 16.03 billion current LCU | +68.8% |
| 1993 | 4.47 billion current LCU | -72.1% |
| 1994 | 40.15 billion current LCU | +797.1% |
| 1995 | 51.72 billion current LCU | +28.8% |
| 1996 | 79.57 billion current LCU | +53.9% |
| 1997 | 81.60 billion current LCU | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 17.48 billion current LCU | -78.6% |
| 1999 | 69.66 billion current LCU | +298.4% |
| 2000 | 132.50 billion current LCU | +90.2% |
| 2001 | 108.46 billion current LCU | -18.1% |
| 2002 | 123.04 billion current LCU | +13.4% |
| 2003 | 177.05 billion current LCU | +43.9% |
| 2004 | 260.89 billion current LCU | +47.4% |
| 2005 | 395.66 billion current LCU | +51.7% |
| 2006 | 419.48 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 389.89 billion current LCU | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 548.13 billion current LCU | +40.6% |
| 2009 | 149.95 billion current LCU | -72.6% |
| 2010 | 328.61 billion current LCU | +119.1% |
| 2011 | 668.42 billion current LCU | +103.4% |
| 2012 | 690.80 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 591.56 billion current LCU | -14.4% |
| 2014 | 359.87 billion current LCU | -39.2% |
| 2015 | -109.86 billion current LCU | -130.5% |
| 2016 | 9.42 billion current LCU | -108.6% |
| 2017 | 144.35 billion current LCU | +1432.1% |
| 2018 | 396.93 billion current LCU | +175.0% |
| 2019 | 250.82 billion current LCU | -36.8% |
| 2020 | 2.49 billion current LCU | -99.0% |
| 2021 | 273.70 billion current LCU | +10891.9% |
| 2022 | 703.76 billion current LCU | +157.1% |
| 2023 | 261.13 billion current LCU | -62.9% |
| 2024 | 111.51 billion current LCU | -57.3% |
| 2025 | 75.25 billion current LCU | -32.5% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 75.25 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.18 billion current LCU, 23.7× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 75.25 billion current LCU is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -4.55 billion current LCU. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +10891.9% | 2.49 billion current LCU | 273.70 billion current LCU |
| 2017 | +1432.1% | 9.42 billion current LCU | 144.35 billion current LCU |
| 1994 | +797.1% | 4.47 billion current LCU | 40.15 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.52 billion current LCU | 4.34 billion current LCU | 4.69 billion current LCU | 2 |
| 1970s | 48.85 billion current LCU | 7.08 billion current LCU | 84.90 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.43 billion current LCU | -45.11 billion current LCU | 204.00 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.97 billion current LCU | 4.47 billion current LCU | 81.60 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 270.51 billion current LCU | 108.46 billion current LCU | 548.13 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 333.09 billion current LCU | -109.86 billion current LCU | 690.80 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 237.97 billion current LCU | 2.49 billion current LCU | 703.76 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
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 in Saudi Arabia?
- External balance on goods and services in Saudi Arabia was 75.25 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 703.76 billion current LCU in 2022.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -109.86 billion current LCU in 2015.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 42nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 168.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.