Economic Outlook No 116 — Current account balance in New Zealand
New Zealand: Economic Outlook No 116 — Current account balance was -23.37 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 116 — Current account balance in New Zealand, 1971–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded -23.37 billion for economic outlook no 116 — current account balance in 2026.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 323.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 116 — current account balance in New Zealand peaked at 95.00 million in 1973 and was at its lowest, -34.69 billion, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 22nd of 36 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Economic Outlook No 116 — Current account balance in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -14.67 million | — |
| 1972 | 34.00 million | -331.8% |
| 1973 | 95.00 million | +179.4% |
| 1974 | -1.13 billion | -1286.3% |
| 1975 | -1.11 billion | -1.4% |
| 1976 | -917.00 million | -17.5% |
| 1977 | -839.00 million | -8.5% |
| 1978 | -421.00 million | -49.8% |
| 1979 | -596.00 million | +41.6% |
| 1980 | -919.00 million | +54.2% |
| 1981 | -1.22 billion | +33.0% |
| 1982 | -2.26 billion | +84.8% |
| 1983 | -1.41 billion | -37.8% |
| 1984 | -3.19 billion | +126.8% |
| 1985 | -3.00 billion | -5.8% |
| 1986 | -2.90 billion | -3.4% |
| 1987 | -2.50 billion | -13.8% |
| 1988 | -176.00 million | -93.0% |
| 1989 | -2.17 billion | +1134.1% |
| 1990 | -2.14 billion | -1.4% |
| 1991 | -1.78 billion | -16.9% |
| 1992 | -2.82 billion | +58.5% |
| 1993 | -2.76 billion | -2.0% |
| 1994 | -2.75 billion | -0.4% |
| 1995 | -3.71 billion | +34.6% |
| 1996 | -4.77 billion | +28.7% |
| 1997 | -5.39 billion | +13.0% |
| 1998 | -2.81 billion | -47.8% |
| 1999 | -5.44 billion | +93.3% |
| 2000 | -3.84 billion | -29.5% |
| 2001 | -1.02 billion | -73.3% |
| 2002 | -2.90 billion | +183.2% |
| 2003 | -3.46 billion | +19.1% |
| 2004 | -6.98 billion | +102.0% |
| 2005 | -11.37 billion | +62.9% |
| 2006 | -12.06 billion | +6.1% |
| 2007 | -12.45 billion | +3.2% |
| 2008 | -14.56 billion | +16.9% |
| 2009 | -4.35 billion | -70.1% |
| 2010 | -4.52 billion | +3.9% |
| 2011 | -5.92 billion | +30.9% |
| 2012 | -8.48 billion | +43.3% |
| 2013 | -7.04 billion | -16.9% |
| 2014 | -7.50 billion | +6.5% |
| 2015 | -6.82 billion | -9.1% |
| 2016 | -5.52 billion | -19.1% |
| 2017 | -8.16 billion | +47.9% |
| 2018 | -12.72 billion | +55.9% |
| 2019 | -9.10 billion | -28.4% |
| 2020 | -4.36 billion | -52.1% |
| 2021 | -20.71 billion | +374.8% |
| 2022 | -34.69 billion | +67.5% |
| 2023 | -28.63 billion | -17.5% |
| 2024 | -25.74 billion | -10.1% |
| 2025 | -22.17 billion | -13.9% |
| 2026 | -23.37 billion | +5.4% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's -23.37 billion is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.64 billion. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 116 — Current account balance in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | -1286.3% | 95.00 million | -1.13 billion |
| 1989 | -1134.1% | -176.00 million | -2.17 billion |
| 2021 | -374.8% | -4.36 billion | -20.71 billion |
| 1972 | +331.8% | -14.67 million | 34.00 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -544.07 million | -1.13 billion | 95.00 million | 9 |
| 1980s | -1.97 billion | -3.19 billion | -176.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.44 billion | -5.44 billion | -1.78 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | -7.30 billion | -14.56 billion | -1.02 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | -7.58 billion | -12.72 billion | -4.52 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | -22.81 billion | -34.69 billion | -4.36 billion | 7 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More economy & growth data for New Zealand
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 161.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.71 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.37 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0111 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 552.02 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.8628 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0081 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 403.08 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.49 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 116 — current account balance in New Zealand?
- Economic outlook no 116 — current account balance in New Zealand was -23.37 billion in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 116 — current account balance recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 95.00 million in 1973.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 116 — current account balance recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was -34.69 billion in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for economic outlook no 116 — current account balance?
- New Zealand ranks 22nd out of 36 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 116 — current account balance rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 323.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 116 — Current account balance. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The OECD Economic Outlook presents the OECD’s analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, government spending, prices and current balances based on a review of each member country and of the induced effect on each of them on international developments. OECD (2024), OECD Economic Outlook No 116 (Edition 2024/2) EO116 Database documentation EO116 Last historical points OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact: eco.outlook@oecd.org