External balance on goods and services in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): External balance on goods and services was -9.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) stood at -9.6%.
That represents a change of down 42.8% on the previous year and down 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 12.0% in 1974 and was at its lowest, -13.7%, in 1981.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 41st of 44 groups 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 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -5.4% | — |
| 1961 | -4.5% | -17.1% |
| 1962 | -1.7% | -62.1% |
| 1963 | -2.8% | +66.4% |
| 1964 | -2.4% | -17.2% |
| 1965 | -2.0% | -13.2% |
| 1966 | -1.4% | -32.1% |
| 1967 | -1.7% | +20.8% |
| 1968 | -1.8% | +6.0% |
| 1969 | -1.5% | -17.3% |
| 1970 | -2.3% | +53.5% |
| 1971 | -1.0% | -55.2% |
| 1972 | -0.6% | -41.7% |
| 1973 | 4.8% | -919.0% |
| 1974 | 12.0% | +149.1% |
| 1975 | -2.1% | -117.1% |
| 1976 | 2.3% | -210.4% |
| 1977 | -3.0% | -234.0% |
| 1978 | -2.6% | -13.8% |
| 1979 | 4.8% | -281.5% |
| 1980 | -2.1% | -145.2% |
| 1981 | -13.7% | +536.1% |
| 1982 | -10.9% | -20.4% |
| 1983 | -8.6% | -20.8% |
| 1984 | -6.7% | -21.8% |
| 1985 | -6.9% | +1.8% |
| 1986 | -8.6% | +25.9% |
| 1987 | -3.7% | -57.6% |
| 1988 | -7.1% | +93.0% |
| 1989 | -7.4% | +4.7% |
| 1990 | -5.0% | -32.2% |
| 1991 | -9.0% | +79.3% |
| 1992 | -8.2% | -8.3% |
| 1993 | -6.1% | -25.7% |
| 1994 | -1.1% | -82.0% |
| 1995 | -2.3% | +112.9% |
| 1996 | -2.1% | -10.6% |
| 1997 | -1.4% | -32.2% |
| 1998 | -4.4% | +213.0% |
| 1999 | -0.7% | -84.7% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | -481.4% |
| 2001 | -1.2% | -144.7% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -146.4% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -99.1% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | +3734.9% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | +1395.7% |
| 2006 | 5.3% | +81.4% |
| 2007 | 4.7% | -10.8% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -28.1% |
| 2009 | -3.8% | -210.8% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -105.2% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | +804.9% |
| 2012 | -1.0% | -158.8% |
| 2013 | -2.3% | +122.4% |
| 2014 | -5.5% | +138.5% |
| 2015 | -8.1% | +48.2% |
| 2016 | -7.5% | -7.7% |
| 2017 | -6.5% | -13.8% |
| 2018 | -4.6% | -29.5% |
| 2019 | -6.9% | +51.8% |
| 2020 | -9.0% | +29.5% |
| 2021 | -4.6% | -49.1% |
| 2022 | -2.2% | -51.5% |
| 2023 | -3.3% | +48.2% |
| 2024 | -6.7% | +104.5% |
| 2025 | -9.6% | +42.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +3734.9% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 2005 | +1395.7% | 0.2% | 2.9% |
| 1973 | +919.0% | -0.6% | 4.8% |
| 2011 | +804.9% | 0.2% | 1.8% |
| 1981 | -536.1% | -2.1% | -13.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -2.5% | -5.4% | -1.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.2% | -3.0% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | -7.6% | -13.7% | -2.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -4.0% | -9.0% | -0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.5% | -3.8% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | -4.0% | -8.1% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -5.9% | -9.6% | -2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- 38 Slovenia 5.4% compare
- 39 South Korea 5.2% compare
- 40 Panama 5.0% compare
- 41 Cote d'Ivoire 5.0% compare
- 42 Burkina Faso 5.0% compare
- 43 Venezuela 4.8% compare
- 44 Hungary 4.5% compare
More economy & growth data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1377 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 4.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,924 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6806 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 453.08 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1603 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 389.12 current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0008 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- External balance on goods and services in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was -9.6% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 1974.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.7% in 1981.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 41st out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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.