External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) was -9.31 billion current US$ 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 US$.
Analysis
In 2024, external balance on goods and services in Afghanistan stood at -9.31 billion current US$. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 57.2% on the previous year and down 80.3% over five years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Afghanistan peaked at -15.56 million current US$ in 1960 and was at its lowest, -9.31 billion current US$, in 2024.
Afghanistan ranks 171st of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -15.56 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | -20.00 million current US$ | +28.6% |
| 1962 | -24.44 million current US$ | +22.2% |
| 1963 | -57.78 million current US$ | +136.4% |
| 1964 | -73.33 million current US$ | +26.9% |
| 1965 | -102.22 million current US$ | +39.4% |
| 1966 | -140.00 million current US$ | +37.0% |
| 1967 | -124.44 million current US$ | -11.1% |
| 1968 | -86.67 million current US$ | -30.4% |
| 1969 | -68.89 million current US$ | -20.5% |
| 1970 | -37.78 million current US$ | -45.2% |
| 1971 | -95.56 million current US$ | +152.9% |
| 1972 | -53.33 million current US$ | -44.2% |
| 1973 | -31.11 million current US$ | -41.7% |
| 1974 | -17.78 million current US$ | -42.9% |
| 1975 | -37.78 million current US$ | +112.5% |
| 1976 | -42.22 million current US$ | +11.8% |
| 1977 | -93.33 million current US$ | +121.1% |
| 1978 | -100.00 million current US$ | +7.1% |
| 2020 | -5.16 billion current US$ | +5062.2% |
| 2021 | -3.24 billion current US$ | -37.2% |
| 2022 | -5.24 billion current US$ | +61.6% |
| 2023 | -5.92 billion current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2024 | -9.31 billion current US$ | +57.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's -9.31 billion current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is -1.17 billion current US$, 8.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's -9.31 billion current US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -4.68 billion current US$, 2.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) 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 | -5062.2% | -100.00 million current US$ | -5.16 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -71.33 million current US$ | -140.00 million current US$ | -15.56 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -56.54 million current US$ | -100.00 million current US$ | -17.78 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2020s | -5.77 billion current US$ | -9.31 billion current US$ | -3.24 billion current US$ | 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 -9.31 billion current US$ 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 -15.56 million current US$ in 1960.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.31 billion current US$ in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Afghanistan ranks 171st 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.