External balance on goods and services in Arab World
Arab World: External balance on goods and services was 6.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Arab World, 2001–2023
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, external balance on goods and services in Arab World stood at 6.4%.
That represents a change of down 45.6% on the previous year and down 58.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Arab World peaked at 18.6% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -1.2%, in 2020.
Arab World ranks 1st of 44 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Arab World, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 7.1% | — |
| 2002 | 7.5% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | +32.1% |
| 2004 | 12.3% | +23.6% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | +37.9% |
| 2006 | 18.6% | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 14.2% | -23.6% |
| 2008 | 16.3% | +14.8% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | -74.4% |
| 2010 | 11.7% | +179.3% |
| 2011 | 17.5% | +49.8% |
| 2012 | 18.2% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 15.2% | -16.4% |
| 2014 | 10.1% | -33.6% |
| 2015 | -0.4% | -103.8% |
| 2016 | -0.7% | +86.3% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -490.9% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | +179.5% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | -39.9% |
| 2020 | -1.2% | -125.5% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | -569.1% |
| 2022 | 11.7% | +106.2% |
| 2023 | 6.4% | -45.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.9% | 4.2% | 18.6% | 9 |
| 2010s | 8.7% | -0.7% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | -1.2% | 11.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More economy & growth data for Arab World
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 4,915 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.6515 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 5,339 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7077 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3,666 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.4859 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 5.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Arab World?
- External balance on goods and services in Arab World was 6.4% in 2023, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6% in 2006.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.2% in 2020.
- How does Arab World rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Arab World ranks 1st out of 44 groups with data for 2023.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Arab World 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 (% of GDP). 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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.