Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income in New Zealand
New Zealand: Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income was -17.50 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Balance of primary income in New Zealand, 1971–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
In 2026, economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in New Zealand stood at -17.50 billion. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 118.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in New Zealand peaked at -86.67 million in 1971 and was at its lowest, -17.50 billion, in 2026.
New Zealand ranks 18th 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -86.67 million | — |
| 1972 | -121.00 million | +39.6% |
| 1973 | -140.00 million | +15.7% |
| 1974 | -128.00 million | -8.6% |
| 1975 | -218.00 million | +70.3% |
| 1976 | -419.00 million | +92.2% |
| 1977 | -457.00 million | +9.1% |
| 1978 | -551.00 million | +20.6% |
| 1979 | -516.00 million | -6.4% |
| 1980 | -577.00 million | +11.8% |
| 1981 | -776.00 million | +34.5% |
| 1982 | -1.03 billion | +33.2% |
| 1983 | -1.40 billion | +35.5% |
| 1984 | -2.07 billion | +47.8% |
| 1985 | -2.72 billion | +31.3% |
| 1986 | -2.86 billion | +5.3% |
| 1987 | -3.48 billion | +21.7% |
| 1988 | -3.33 billion | -4.5% |
| 1989 | -3.30 billion | -0.9% |
| 1990 | -3.11 billion | -5.7% |
| 1991 | -4.77 billion | +53.4% |
| 1992 | -5.01 billion | +5.0% |
| 1993 | -5.77 billion | +15.2% |
| 1994 | -5.98 billion | +3.6% |
| 1995 | -6.12 billion | +2.3% |
| 1996 | -7.06 billion | +15.4% |
| 1997 | -7.27 billion | +3.0% |
| 1998 | -4.79 billion | -34.2% |
| 1999 | -6.02 billion | +25.7% |
| 2000 | -7.06 billion | +17.4% |
| 2001 | -6.69 billion | -5.3% |
| 2002 | -6.73 billion | +0.6% |
| 2003 | -6.76 billion | +0.5% |
| 2004 | -8.14 billion | +20.4% |
| 2005 | -9.87 billion | +21.3% |
| 2006 | -11.55 billion | +17.0% |
| 2007 | -12.82 billion | +11.0% |
| 2008 | -14.16 billion | +10.4% |
| 2009 | -9.04 billion | -36.2% |
| 2010 | -9.39 billion | +3.8% |
| 2011 | -10.05 billion | +7.1% |
| 2012 | -9.03 billion | -10.2% |
| 2013 | -8.99 billion | -0.4% |
| 2014 | -9.88 billion | +9.9% |
| 2015 | -9.08 billion | -8.2% |
| 2016 | -8.03 billion | -11.5% |
| 2017 | -10.94 billion | +36.2% |
| 2018 | -11.44 billion | +4.6% |
| 2019 | -9.00 billion | -21.4% |
| 2020 | -6.17 billion | -31.4% |
| 2021 | -9.14 billion | +48.1% |
| 2022 | -12.84 billion | +40.5% |
| 2023 | -13.71 billion | +6.8% |
| 2024 | -15.09 billion | +10.1% |
| 2025 | -17.02 billion | +12.8% |
| 2026 | -17.50 billion | +2.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's -17.50 billion is below the median for high income countries, which is -4.00 billion, 4.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -292.96 million | -551.00 million | -86.67 million | 9 |
| 1980s | -2.15 billion | -3.48 billion | -577.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | -5.59 billion | -7.27 billion | -3.11 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | -9.28 billion | -14.16 billion | -6.69 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | -9.58 billion | -11.44 billion | -8.03 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | -13.07 billion | -17.50 billion | -6.17 billion | 7 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More economy & growth data for New Zealand
- 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 23.86 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0001 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.48 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 3.61 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 104.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 677.46 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 27.59 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in New Zealand?
- Economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income in New Zealand was -17.50 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was -86.67 million in 1971.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.50 billion in 2026.
- How does New Zealand rank for economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income?
- New Zealand ranks 18th out of 35 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — balance of primary income rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 118.0%. 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 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