Current account balance (BoP, current US$) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Current account balance (BoP, current US$) was -125.42 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Current account balance in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for current account balance in United Kingdom is -125.42 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 15.0% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current account balance in United Kingdom peaked at 14.13 billion BoP, current US$ in 1981 and was at its lowest, -153.59 billion BoP, current US$, in 2014.
That places United Kingdom 199th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Current account balance (BoP, current US$) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.97 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 2.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.9% |
| 1972 | 533.35 million BoP, current US$ | -80.4% |
| 1973 | -2.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -552.2% |
| 1974 | -7.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +208.9% |
| 1975 | -3.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -53.5% |
| 1976 | -1.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -60.2% |
| 1977 | 145.04 million BoP, current US$ | -110.5% |
| 1978 | 2.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +1391.6% |
| 1979 | -782.64 million BoP, current US$ | -136.2% |
| 1980 | 6.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -976.8% |
| 1981 | 14.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +105.9% |
| 1982 | 7.98 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.5% |
| 1983 | 5.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -33.7% |
| 1984 | 1.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -65.4% |
| 1985 | 3.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +80.8% |
| 1986 | -1.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -139.9% |
| 1987 | -12.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +851.1% |
| 1988 | -35.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +180.6% |
| 1989 | -43.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.0% |
| 1990 | -38.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.0% |
| 1991 | -19.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -51.0% |
| 1992 | -23.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.0% |
| 1993 | -17.72 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.6% |
| 1994 | -10.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.4% |
| 1995 | -13.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.0% |
| 1996 | -10.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.1% |
| 1997 | -1.40 billion BoP, current US$ | -86.4% |
| 1998 | -5.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +275.9% |
| 1999 | -35.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +577.0% |
| 2000 | -30.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.6% |
| 2001 | -29.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2002 | -35.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.9% |
| 2003 | -37.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.6% |
| 2004 | -55.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +47.8% |
| 2005 | -50.39 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.2% |
| 2006 | -84.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +67.8% |
| 2007 | -115.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.4% |
| 2008 | -113.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2009 | -73.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -35.6% |
| 2010 | -68.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.1% |
| 2011 | -43.45 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.9% |
| 2012 | -85.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +96.1% |
| 2013 | -129.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +52.0% |
| 2014 | -153.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.6% |
| 2015 | -144.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.7% |
| 2016 | -147.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2017 | -93.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.6% |
| 2018 | -112.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2019 | -76.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.0% |
| 2020 | -79.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.2% |
| 2021 | -24.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -69.9% |
| 2022 | -65.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +173.5% |
| 2023 | -122.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +86.0% |
| 2024 | -109.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.9% |
| 2025 | -125.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -125.42 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 194.40 million BoP, current US$. (72 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -125.42 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -814.98 million BoP, current US$, 153.9× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Current account balance (BoP, current US$) in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +1391.6% | 145.04 million BoP, current US$ | 2.16 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1980 | +976.8% | -782.64 million BoP, current US$ | 6.86 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1987 | -851.1% | -1.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.59 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1999 | -577.0% | -5.27 billion BoP, current US$ | -35.70 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1973 | -552.2% | 533.35 million BoP, current US$ | -2.41 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -795.89 million BoP, current US$ | -7.45 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -5.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -17.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -38.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.40 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -62.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -115.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.14 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -105.63 billion BoP, current US$ | -153.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.45 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -87.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -125.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
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 in United Kingdom?
- Current account balance in United Kingdom was -125.42 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 14.13 billion BoP, current US$ in 1981.
- What is the lowest current account balance recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -153.59 billion BoP, current US$ in 2014.
- How does United Kingdom rank for current account balance?
- United Kingdom ranks 199th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is current account balance rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.