Transport services in South Asia
South Asia: Transport services was 19.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Transport services in South Asia, 1975–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service imports, BoP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for transport services in South Asia is 19.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.3% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in South Asia peaked at 69.2% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 18.8%, in 2023.
South Asia ranks 37th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Transport services in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of service imports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 69.2% | — |
| 1976 | 61.6% | -10.9% |
| 1977 | 62.0% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 62.8% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 61.4% | -2.3% |
| 1980 | 60.2% | -1.9% |
| 1981 | 59.4% | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 60.0% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 56.7% | -5.5% |
| 1984 | 57.7% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 56.8% | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 54.2% | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 54.8% | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 56.0% | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 55.5% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 56.3% | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 54.6% | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 58.6% | +7.3% |
| 1993 | 59.0% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 54.7% | -7.2% |
| 1995 | 54.6% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 57.6% | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 55.6% | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 50.7% | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 43.4% | -14.4% |
| 2000 | 47.7% | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 44.8% | -6.1% |
| 2002 | 45.4% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 41.7% | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 40.9% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 45.8% | +12.1% |
| 2006 | 44.4% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 46.1% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 31.0% | -32.7% |
| 2009 | 26.1% | -15.9% |
| 2010 | 23.0% | -11.7% |
| 2011 | 25.9% | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 24.2% | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 23.1% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 25.1% | +8.9% |
| 2015 | 24.3% | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 19.7% | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 19.7% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 20.1% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 21.9% | +9.0% |
| 2020 | 20.9% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 25.7% | +22.9% |
| 2022 | 27.3% | +6.2% |
| 2023 | 18.8% | -31.2% |
| 2024 | 20.0% | +6.5% |
| 2025 | 19.1% | -4.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Transport services in South Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | -32.7% | 46.1% | 31.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 63.4% | 61.4% | 69.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 57.1% | 54.2% | 60.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.5% | 43.4% | 59.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.4% | 26.1% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.7% | 19.7% | 25.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.0% | 18.8% | 27.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More economy & growth data for South Asia
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 6.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.0821 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 221.99 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5874 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5559 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 5.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,504 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 275.19 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is transport services in South Asia?
- Transport services in South Asia was 19.1% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 69.2% in 1975.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.8% in 2023.
- How does South Asia rank for transport services?
- South Asia ranks 37th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Transport services (% of service imports, BoP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Transport services covers the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are services provided by non-residents to residents.