Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) was -2.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
-2.2%
Change on year
up 38.8%
World rank
121st
of 205 countries
All-time high
-0.8%
in 2021
All-time low
-5.5%
in 2016
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Current account balance as a proportion of GDP in United Kingdom, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded -2.2% for current account balance as a proportion of gdp in 2024.
The figure is up 38.8% on the previous year and up 56.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current account balance as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom peaked at -0.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, -5.5%, in 2016.
That places United Kingdom 121st out of 205 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -1.8% | — |
| 2001 | -1.8% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | -2.0% | +11.8% |
| 2003 | -1.8% | -7.4% |
| 2004 | -2.3% | +25.4% |
| 2005 | -2.0% | -13.5% |
| 2006 | -3.1% | +57.4% |
| 2007 | -3.7% | +19.5% |
| 2008 | -3.9% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | -3.0% | -21.9% |
| 2010 | -2.8% | -8.6% |
| 2011 | -1.6% | -41.2% |
| 2012 | -3.1% | +92.9% |
| 2013 | -4.6% | +47.8% |
| 2014 | -5.0% | +7.5% |
| 2015 | -4.9% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | -5.5% | +11.1% |
| 2017 | -3.5% | -36.4% |
| 2018 | -3.9% | +11.9% |
| 2019 | -2.7% | -31.5% |
| 2020 | -2.9% | +10.0% |
| 2021 | -0.8% | -74.3% |
| 2022 | -2.1% | +174.6% |
| 2023 | -3.6% | +73.0% |
| 2024 | -2.2% | -38.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -2.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.6%. (69 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -2.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -0.7%, 3.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -2.5% | -3.9% | -1.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.8% | -5.5% | -1.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.3% | -3.6% | -0.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 118 Zambia -1.9% compare
- 119 Australia -2.0% compare
- 120 North Macedonia -2.1% compare
- 121 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -2.2% compare
- 123 Albania -2.4% compare
- 124 Saint Lucia -2.5% compare
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 21.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current account balance as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom?
- Current account balance as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom was -2.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest current account balance as a proportion of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was -0.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest current account balance as a proportion of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.5% in 2016.
- How does United Kingdom rank for current account balance as a proportion of gdp?
- United Kingdom ranks 121st out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is current account balance as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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