Economic Outlook No 117: Balance of primary income … payments in Germany
Germany: Economic Outlook No 117: Balance of primary income … payments was 136.80 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income in Germany, 1991–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
Germany recorded 136.80 billion for economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in 2026.
That represents a change of down 6.5% on the previous year and up 51.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in Germany peaked at 146.28 billion in 2025 and was at its lowest, -23.47 billion, in 2003.
Germany ranks 4th of 35 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Economic Outlook No 117: Balance of primary income … payments in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 14.10 billion | — |
| 1992 | 13.70 billion | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 10.21 billion | -25.5% |
| 1994 | 230.00 million | -97.7% |
| 1995 | -3.19 billion | -1487.0% |
| 1996 | -560.00 million | -82.4% |
| 1997 | -4.68 billion | +735.7% |
| 1998 | -10.93 billion | +133.5% |
| 1999 | -14.66 billion | +34.1% |
| 2000 | -13.35 billion | -8.9% |
| 2001 | -15.83 billion | +18.6% |
| 2002 | -23.46 billion | +48.2% |
| 2003 | -23.47 billion | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 13.29 billion | -156.6% |
| 2005 | 18.11 billion | +36.3% |
| 2006 | 39.20 billion | +116.5% |
| 2007 | 36.35 billion | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 25.94 billion | -28.6% |
| 2009 | 56.54 billion | +118.0% |
| 2010 | 51.24 billion | -9.4% |
| 2011 | 71.14 billion | +38.8% |
| 2012 | 66.66 billion | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 64.47 billion | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 61.60 billion | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 60.96 billion | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 90.62 billion | +48.7% |
| 2017 | 84.08 billion | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 136.12 billion | +61.9% |
| 2019 | 133.59 billion | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 86.29 billion | -35.4% |
| 2021 | 121.96 billion | +41.3% |
| 2022 | 118.07 billion | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 133.17 billion | +12.8% |
| 2024 | 140.48 billion | +5.5% |
| 2025 | 146.28 billion | +4.1% |
| 2026 | 136.80 billion | -6.5% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 136.80 billion is above the median for high income countries, which is -4.00 billion. (29 countries reporting)
- Germany's 136.80 billion is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -1.71 billion. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 117: Balance of primary income … payments in Germany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -1487.0% | 230.00 million | -3.19 billion |
| 1997 | -735.7% | -560.00 million | -4.68 billion |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 468.89 million | -14.66 billion | 14.10 billion | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.33 billion | -23.47 billion | 56.54 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.05 billion | 51.24 billion | 136.12 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 126.15 billion | 86.29 billion | 146.28 billion | 7 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 1 Lithuania 28.04 million compare
- 1 Japan 42.54 trillion compare
- 2 Croatia 1.30 billion compare
- 2 Latvia -700.00 million compare
- 2 Sweden 296.31 billion compare
- 3 Estonia -800.00 million compare
- 3 Norway 254.00 billion compare
- 4 Slovenia -930.97 million compare
- 5 Netherlands -16.03 billion compare
- 5 Denmark 90.00 billion compare
- 6 France 61.00 billion compare
- 7 United States 50.00 billion compare
- 7 Poland -125.00 billion compare
More economy & growth data for Germany
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 148.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.7761 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.6565 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0108 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 654.77 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0079 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 478.11 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 2.68 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in Germany?
- Economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in Germany was 136.80 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 146.28 billion in 2025.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was -23.47 billion in 2003.
- How does Germany rank for economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income?
- Germany ranks 4th out of 35 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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