Current account balance in Australia
Australia: Current account balance was -48.22 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Current account balance in Australia, 1989–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for current account balance in Australia is -48.22 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 18.9% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current account balance in Australia peaked at 38.19 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -68.77 billion BoP, current US$, in 2012.
Australia ranks 197th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Current account balance in Australia, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | -18.34 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1990 | -15.53 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.3% |
| 1991 | -10.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.8% |
| 1992 | -10.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.6% |
| 1993 | -9.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.9% |
| 1994 | -15.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +70.8% |
| 1995 | -18.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.7% |
| 1996 | -14.40 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.8% |
| 1997 | -11.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.3% |
| 1998 | -17.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +49.3% |
| 1999 | -21.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.6% |
| 2000 | -15.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.9% |
| 2001 | -7.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.4% |
| 2002 | -16.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +100.4% |
| 2003 | -29.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +83.1% |
| 2004 | -41.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.9% |
| 2005 | -43.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2006 | -46.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2007 | -64.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.7% |
| 2008 | -51.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.3% |
| 2009 | -48.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2010 | -46.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.3% |
| 2011 | -45.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.8% |
| 2012 | -68.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.7% |
| 2013 | -51.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.3% |
| 2014 | -45.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.6% |
| 2015 | -58.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.3% |
| 2016 | -43.64 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.1% |
| 2017 | -40.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.4% |
| 2018 | -37.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2019 | -1.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -97.1% |
| 2020 | 21.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -2167.9% |
| 2021 | 38.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +74.4% |
| 2022 | 4.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -88.7% |
| 2023 | -7.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -274.3% |
| 2024 | -40.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +439.8% |
| 2025 | -48.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's -48.22 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 303.23 million BoP, current US$. (72 countries reporting)
- Australia's -48.22 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 22.41 million BoP, current US$. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Current account balance in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2167.9% | -1.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 21.90 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2024 | -439.8% | -7.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.54 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2023 | -274.3% | 4.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.51 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -18.34 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.34 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 1 |
| 1990s | -14.61 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.80 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -36.45 billion BoP, current US$ | -64.68 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -43.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -68.77 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -5.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 38.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 194 Canada -22.01 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 195 Saudi Arabia -32.74 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 196 Romania -33.88 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 198 Brazil -66.72 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 199 United Kingdom -97.14 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 200 United States -1.12 trillion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0025 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -164.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 36.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -32.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0203 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,323 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 20.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current account balance in Australia?
- Current account balance in Australia was -48.22 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest current account balance recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 38.19 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest current account balance recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -68.77 billion BoP, current US$ in 2012.
- How does Australia rank for current account balance?
- Australia ranks 197th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is current account balance rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Current account balance (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Balance of current transactions (transactions in goods and services, earned income and transfer income) between residents and non-residents. The term current account balance is used in the external accounts and is expressed from the perspective of resident units. The term current external balance is used in the national accounts and is expressed from the perspective of the non-resident units, and therefore with the opposite sign. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.