Current account balance in Nigeria
Nigeria: Current account balance was 14.04 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Current account balance in Nigeria, 1977–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for current account balance in Nigeria is 14.04 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 26.2% on the previous year and up 190.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current account balance in Nigeria peaked at 36.53 billion BoP, current US$ in 2005 and was at its lowest, -15.99 billion BoP, current US$, in 2020.
Nigeria ranks 21st of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Current account balance in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | -1.02 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | -3.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +269.5% |
| 1979 | 1.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -144.5% |
| 1980 | 5.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +209.9% |
| 1981 | -6.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -225.0% |
| 1982 | -7.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.5% |
| 1983 | -4.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.5% |
| 1984 | 122.63 million BoP, current US$ | -102.8% |
| 1985 | 2.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +2023.1% |
| 1986 | 210.88 million BoP, current US$ | -91.9% |
| 1987 | -73.21 million BoP, current US$ | -134.7% |
| 1988 | -296.45 million BoP, current US$ | +305.0% |
| 1989 | 1.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -467.5% |
| 1990 | 4.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +357.8% |
| 1991 | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -75.9% |
| 1992 | 2.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +88.6% |
| 1993 | -780.39 million BoP, current US$ | -134.4% |
| 1994 | -2.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +172.7% |
| 1995 | -802.33 million BoP, current US$ | -62.3% |
| 1996 | 1.10 billion BoP, current US$ | -237.0% |
| 1997 | 168.24 million BoP, current US$ | -84.7% |
| 1998 | -1.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -818.7% |
| 1999 | 505.75 million BoP, current US$ | -141.8% |
| 2000 | 7.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +1368.5% |
| 2001 | 2.48 billion BoP, current US$ | -66.6% |
| 2002 | 1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -56.3% |
| 2003 | 3.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +213.0% |
| 2004 | 16.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +396.7% |
| 2005 | 36.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +116.9% |
| 2006 | 36.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 27.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.3% |
| 2008 | 29.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 13.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -52.4% |
| 2010 | 13.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 10.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.6% |
| 2012 | 17.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +62.9% |
| 2013 | 19.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2014 | 906.54 million BoP, current US$ | -95.2% |
| 2015 | -15.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -1803.0% |
| 2016 | 5.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -132.9% |
| 2017 | 13.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +167.2% |
| 2018 | 7.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -46.3% |
| 2019 | -13.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -287.9% |
| 2020 | -15.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 2021 | -3.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -79.6% |
| 2022 | 1.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -131.3% |
| 2023 | 6.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +530.6% |
| 2024 | 19.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +196.3% |
| 2025 | 14.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 14.04 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -391.82 million BoP, current US$. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 14.04 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -749.01 million BoP, current US$. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Current account balance in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +2023.1% | 122.63 million BoP, current US$ | 2.60 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2015 | -1803.0% | 906.54 million BoP, current US$ | -15.44 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2000 | +1368.5% | 505.75 million BoP, current US$ | 7.43 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.75 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | -925.30 million BoP, current US$ | -7.28 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 531.16 million BoP, current US$ | -2.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.49 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 36.53 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current account balance in Nigeria?
- Current account balance in Nigeria was 14.04 billion BoP, current US$ 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 36.53 billion BoP, current US$ in 2005.
- What is the lowest current account balance recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was -15.99 billion BoP, current US$ in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for current account balance?
- Nigeria ranks 21st out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is current account balance rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 190.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.