Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income in Australia
Australia: Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income was -89.22 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income in Australia, 1960–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
Australia recorded -89.22 billion for economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in 2026.
That represents a change of down 8.2% on the previous year and down 120.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in Australia peaked at -243.00 million in 1962 and was at its lowest, -113.05 billion, in 2022.
Australia ranks 25th of 35 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 117 — Balance of primary income in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -248.00 million | — |
| 1961 | -250.00 million | +0.8% |
| 1962 | -243.00 million | -2.8% |
| 1963 | -296.00 million | +21.8% |
| 1964 | -279.00 million | -5.7% |
| 1965 | -310.00 million | +11.1% |
| 1966 | -303.00 million | -2.3% |
| 1967 | -405.00 million | +33.7% |
| 1968 | -495.00 million | +22.2% |
| 1969 | -524.00 million | +5.9% |
| 1970 | -610.00 million | +16.4% |
| 1971 | -613.00 million | +0.5% |
| 1972 | -566.00 million | -7.7% |
| 1973 | -684.00 million | +20.8% |
| 1974 | -645.00 million | -5.7% |
| 1975 | -952.00 million | +47.6% |
| 1976 | -1.32 billion | +39.1% |
| 1977 | -1.45 billion | +9.4% |
| 1978 | -1.65 billion | +13.7% |
| 1979 | -2.16 billion | +30.9% |
| 1980 | -2.31 billion | +7.1% |
| 1981 | -2.43 billion | +5.1% |
| 1982 | -2.39 billion | -1.6% |
| 1983 | -3.44 billion | +44.3% |
| 1984 | -4.60 billion | +33.5% |
| 1985 | -6.30 billion | +37.1% |
| 1986 | -7.12 billion | +12.9% |
| 1987 | -8.04 billion | +13.1% |
| 1988 | -10.35 billion | +28.6% |
| 1989 | -14.43 billion | +39.4% |
| 1990 | -16.85 billion | +16.8% |
| 1991 | -15.65 billion | -7.1% |
| 1992 | -13.78 billion | -12.0% |
| 1993 | -12.30 billion | -10.7% |
| 1994 | -15.63 billion | +27.1% |
| 1995 | -18.58 billion | +18.9% |
| 1996 | -18.49 billion | -0.5% |
| 1997 | -18.80 billion | +1.7% |
| 1998 | -18.43 billion | -2.0% |
| 1999 | -18.79 billion | +1.9% |
| 2000 | -19.43 billion | +3.4% |
| 2001 | -20.29 billion | +4.4% |
| 2002 | -21.56 billion | +6.3% |
| 2003 | -23.39 billion | +8.5% |
| 2004 | -30.10 billion | +28.7% |
| 2005 | -36.99 billion | +22.9% |
| 2006 | -43.34 billion | +17.2% |
| 2007 | -49.33 billion | +13.8% |
| 2008 | -44.69 billion | -9.4% |
| 2009 | -48.25 billion | +8.0% |
| 2010 | -54.11 billion | +12.1% |
| 2011 | -53.74 billion | -0.7% |
| 2012 | -40.00 billion | -25.6% |
| 2013 | -40.56 billion | +1.4% |
| 2014 | -36.41 billion | -10.2% |
| 2015 | -37.87 billion | +4.0% |
| 2016 | -40.48 billion | +6.9% |
| 2017 | -54.51 billion | +34.7% |
| 2018 | -63.01 billion | +15.6% |
| 2019 | -59.06 billion | -6.3% |
| 2020 | -24.69 billion | -58.2% |
| 2021 | -51.86 billion | +110.0% |
| 2022 | -113.05 billion | +118.0% |
| 2023 | -95.07 billion | -15.9% |
| 2024 | -81.38 billion | -14.4% |
| 2025 | -82.48 billion | +1.4% |
| 2026 | -89.22 billion | +8.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's -89.22 billion is below the median for high income countries, which is -4.00 billion, 22.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -118.0% | -51.86 billion | -113.05 billion |
| 2021 | -110.0% | -24.69 billion | -51.86 billion |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -335.30 million | -524.00 million | -243.00 million | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.06 billion | -2.16 billion | -566.00 million | 10 |
| 1980s | -6.14 billion | -14.43 billion | -2.31 billion | 10 |
| 1990s | -16.73 billion | -18.80 billion | -12.30 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | -33.74 billion | -49.33 billion | -19.43 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | -47.98 billion | -63.01 billion | -36.41 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | -76.82 billion | -113.05 billion | -24.69 billion | 7 |
Countries ranked near Australia
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 economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in Australia?
- Economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in Australia was -89.22 billion in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was -243.00 million in 1962.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -113.05 billion in 2022.
- How does Australia rank for economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income?
- Australia ranks 25th out of 35 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 120.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income (balance of payments basis). 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 (2025), OECD Economic Outlook No 117 (Edition 2025/1) EO117 Database documentation EO117 Last historical points gdp inflation cpi population unemployment real gdp gdp per capita employment OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact : eco.outlook@oecd.org Keywords : Outlook, forecasts, forecast, GDP