Transport services (% of commercial service imports) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Transport services (% of commercial service imports) was 29.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Transport services in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for transport services in Saudi Arabia is 29.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.9% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in Saudi Arabia peaked at 60.8% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 14.8%, in 1997.
Saudi Arabia ranks 105th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Transport services (% of commercial service imports) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 38.5% | — |
| 1972 | 38.2% | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 36.4% | -4.6% |
| 1974 | 46.2% | +26.9% |
| 1975 | 52.4% | +13.5% |
| 1976 | 59.1% | +12.7% |
| 1977 | 60.8% | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 52.1% | -14.3% |
| 1979 | 24.7% | -52.6% |
| 1980 | 35.0% | +41.4% |
| 1981 | 29.1% | -16.7% |
| 1982 | 32.1% | +10.4% |
| 1983 | 32.8% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 32.6% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 21.2% | -34.9% |
| 1986 | 18.5% | -13.0% |
| 1987 | 18.3% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 23.3% | +27.5% |
| 1989 | 18.7% | -19.8% |
| 1990 | 18.1% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 19.3% | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 17.9% | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 15.0% | -16.1% |
| 1994 | 20.4% | +35.7% |
| 1995 | 25.3% | +23.7% |
| 1996 | 17.2% | -31.9% |
| 1997 | 14.8% | -13.8% |
| 1998 | 25.8% | +73.8% |
| 1999 | 22.1% | -14.3% |
| 2000 | 20.5% | -7.0% |
| 2001 | 32.4% | +57.7% |
| 2002 | 33.6% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 34.6% | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 30.1% | -13.0% |
| 2005 | 28.0% | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 26.9% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 21.2% | -21.2% |
| 2008 | 24.2% | +13.8% |
| 2009 | 24.6% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 25.3% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 28.2% | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 36.0% | +27.8% |
| 2013 | 37.3% | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 32.0% | -14.1% |
| 2015 | 36.1% | +12.8% |
| 2016 | 32.3% | -10.4% |
| 2017 | 29.2% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 28.6% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 28.9% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 31.8% | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 29.5% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 27.7% | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 26.0% | -6.5% |
| 2024 | 28.2% | +8.6% |
| 2025 | 29.9% | +5.9% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 29.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.5× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 29.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 43.6%, 69% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 45.4% | 24.7% | 60.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 26.2% | 18.3% | 35.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.6% | 14.8% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.6% | 20.5% | 34.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.4% | 25.3% | 37.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.8% | 26.0% | 31.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More private sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Food imports 12.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 72.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 254.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 122.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.2% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 16.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 310.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 66.92 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 8,403 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is transport services in Saudi Arabia?
- Transport services in Saudi Arabia was 29.9% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 60.8% in 1977.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.8% in 1997.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for transport services?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 105th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 commercial service imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Transport is 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 commercial services provided by non-residents to residents.