Imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Imports of goods and services was 28.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia, 1968–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 28.2% for imports of goods and services in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and down 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia peaked at 47.7% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 13.2%, in 1974.
Saudi Arabia ranks 152nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 24.7% | — |
| 1969 | 24.9% | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 21.6% | -13.5% |
| 1971 | 17.9% | -16.9% |
| 1972 | 18.3% | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 20.9% | +14.5% |
| 1974 | 13.2% | -36.9% |
| 1975 | 21.7% | +64.6% |
| 1976 | 24.3% | +11.6% |
| 1977 | 32.6% | +34.3% |
| 1978 | 41.6% | +27.8% |
| 1979 | 34.2% | -17.7% |
| 1980 | 27.3% | -20.3% |
| 1981 | 30.1% | +10.2% |
| 1982 | 39.1% | +30.0% |
| 1983 | 47.7% | +21.9% |
| 1984 | 45.2% | -5.1% |
| 1985 | 36.6% | -19.0% |
| 1986 | 35.8% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 37.1% | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 35.2% | -5.2% |
| 1989 | 38.1% | +8.2% |
| 1990 | 31.4% | -17.6% |
| 1991 | 36.4% | +16.0% |
| 1992 | 36.0% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 33.5% | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 26.1% | -22.1% |
| 1995 | 27.7% | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 26.6% | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 26.0% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 26.5% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 23.2% | -12.4% |
| 2000 | 24.8% | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 23.9% | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 23.6% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 24.0% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 24.9% | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 30.1% | +20.9% |
| 2007 | 34.9% | +16.0% |
| 2008 | 34.0% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 37.8% | +11.1% |
| 2010 | 33.0% | -12.7% |
| 2011 | 29.1% | -11.8% |
| 2012 | 28.6% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 29.9% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 32.9% | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 35.7% | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 28.8% | -19.3% |
| 2017 | 27.2% | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 23.6% | -13.2% |
| 2019 | 24.6% | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 23.7% | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 21.7% | -8.4% |
| 2022 | 20.8% | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 25.0% | +20.2% |
| 2024 | 27.0% | +7.9% |
| 2025 | 28.2% | +4.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 28.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 51.2%, 55% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 28.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 48.8%, 58% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 24.8% | 24.7% | 24.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 24.6% | 13.2% | 41.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 37.2% | 27.3% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.3% | 23.2% | 36.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.2% | 23.6% | 37.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.3% | 23.6% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.4% | 20.8% | 28.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 149 Syrian Arab Republic 28.7% compare
- 150 Equatorial Guinea 28.4% compare
- 151 Sierra Leone 28.2% compare
- 153 Ecuador 27.9% compare
- 154 Dominican Republic 27.9% compare
- 155 Zambia 27.6% compare
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia?
- Imports of goods and services in Saudi Arabia was 28.2% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 47.7% in 1983.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.2% in 1974.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for imports of goods and services?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 152nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. 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.