External balance on goods and services in Iran
Iran: External balance on goods and services was -31.68 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-31.68 billion current US$
Change on year
down 34.4%
World rank
186th
of 193 countries
All-time high
54.40 billion current US$
in 2011
All-time low
-31.68 billion current US$
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Iran, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Iran recorded -31.68 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 34.4% on the previous year and down 290.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Iran peaked at 54.40 billion current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, -31.68 billion current US$, in 2025.
That places Iran 186th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Iran, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -148.62 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | -94.34 million current US$ | -36.5% |
| 1962 | 38.43 million current US$ | -140.7% |
| 1963 | 141.51 million current US$ | +268.2% |
| 1964 | 3.65 million current US$ | -97.4% |
| 1965 | -20.17 million current US$ | -652.1% |
| 1966 | -89.50 million current US$ | +343.7% |
| 1967 | -178.49 million current US$ | +99.4% |
| 1968 | -261.59 million current US$ | +46.6% |
| 1969 | -294.43 million current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1970 | -300.30 million current US$ | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 244.76 million current US$ | -181.5% |
| 1972 | 247.26 million current US$ | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 3.46 billion current US$ | +1300.0% |
| 1974 | 10.78 billion current US$ | +211.5% |
| 1975 | 2.77 billion current US$ | -74.3% |
| 1976 | 6.11 billion current US$ | +120.3% |
| 1977 | 1.37 billion current US$ | -77.5% |
| 1978 | 978.45 million current US$ | -28.7% |
| 1979 | 9.66 billion current US$ | +887.3% |
| 1980 | -14.16 billion current US$ | -246.6% |
| 1981 | -15.65 billion current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1982 | -4.89 billion current US$ | -68.8% |
| 1983 | -15.11 billion current US$ | +208.9% |
| 1984 | -8.61 billion current US$ | -43.0% |
| 1985 | -9.74 billion current US$ | +13.1% |
| 1986 | -13.97 billion current US$ | +43.4% |
| 1987 | 576.18 million current US$ | -104.1% |
| 1988 | -8.63 billion current US$ | -1597.9% |
| 1989 | -9.98 billion current US$ | +15.6% |
| 1990 | -13.13 billion current US$ | +31.6% |
| 1991 | -21.78 billion current US$ | +65.8% |
| 1992 | -16.85 billion current US$ | -22.6% |
| 1993 | 3.05 billion current US$ | -118.1% |
| 1994 | 10.75 billion current US$ | +252.9% |
| 1995 | 7.91 billion current US$ | -26.4% |
| 1996 | 6.22 billion current US$ | -21.4% |
| 1997 | 2.17 billion current US$ | -65.1% |
| 1998 | -4.26 billion current US$ | -296.1% |
| 1999 | 4.21 billion current US$ | -198.9% |
| 2000 | 1.84 billion current US$ | -56.4% |
| 2001 | -2.45 billion current US$ | -233.2% |
| 2002 | 842.66 million current US$ | -134.4% |
| 2003 | -2.16 billion current US$ | -356.7% |
| 2004 | -1.46 billion current US$ | -32.3% |
| 2005 | 14.00 billion current US$ | -1055.7% |
| 2006 | 17.45 billion current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2007 | 27.28 billion current US$ | +56.3% |
| 2008 | 20.00 billion current US$ | -26.7% |
| 2009 | 7.14 billion current US$ | -64.3% |
| 2010 | 24.49 billion current US$ | +243.2% |
| 2011 | 54.40 billion current US$ | +122.1% |
| 2012 | 5.55 billion current US$ | -89.8% |
| 2013 | 16.41 billion current US$ | +195.8% |
| 2014 | 1.43 billion current US$ | -91.3% |
| 2015 | -8.11 billion current US$ | -665.8% |
| 2016 | 3.55 billion current US$ | -143.8% |
| 2017 | 2.60 billion current US$ | -26.7% |
| 2018 | 10.97 billion current US$ | +321.5% |
| 2019 | -13.79 billion current US$ | -225.7% |
| 2020 | -19.96 billion current US$ | +44.7% |
| 2021 | 5.56 billion current US$ | -127.9% |
| 2022 | 9.36 billion current US$ | +68.2% |
| 2023 | -7.09 billion current US$ | -175.8% |
| 2024 | -23.57 billion current US$ | +232.3% |
| 2025 | -31.68 billion current US$ | +34.4% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's -31.68 billion current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -347.73 million current US$, 91.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's -31.68 billion current US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -4.68 billion current US$, 6.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -1597.9% | 576.18 million current US$ | -8.63 billion current US$ |
| 1973 | +1300.0% | 247.26 million current US$ | 3.46 billion current US$ |
| 2005 | +1055.7% | -1.46 billion current US$ | 14.00 billion current US$ |
| 1979 | +887.3% | 978.45 million current US$ | 9.66 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -90.36 million current US$ | -294.43 million current US$ | 141.51 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.53 billion current US$ | -300.30 million current US$ | 10.78 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -10.02 billion current US$ | -15.65 billion current US$ | 576.18 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.17 billion current US$ | -21.78 billion current US$ | 10.75 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.25 billion current US$ | -2.45 billion current US$ | 27.28 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.75 billion current US$ | -13.79 billion current US$ | 54.40 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -11.23 billion current US$ | -31.68 billion current US$ | 9.36 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More economy & growth data for Iran
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.48 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 89.42 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0002 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.9766 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 1.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 15.83 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 130.68 % change on previous year (1982)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Iran?
- External balance on goods and services in Iran was -31.68 billion current US$ 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 54.40 billion current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was -31.68 billion current US$ in 2025.
- How does Iran rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Iran ranks 186th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 290.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.
Download this data
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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.