Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of in China
China: Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of was 3.21 in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of in China, 1982–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
In 2026, economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of in China stood at 3.21.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.4% on the previous year and up 94.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of in China peaked at 9.8 in 2007 and was at its lowest, -3.03, in 1985.
China ranks 10th of 39 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 1.82 | — |
| 1983 | 1.27 | -30.4% |
| 1984 | 0.5735 | -54.7% |
| 1985 | -3.03 | -628.6% |
| 1986 | -1.82 | -39.8% |
| 1987 | 0.3594 | -119.7% |
| 1988 | -0.5953 | -265.6% |
| 1989 | -0.6176 | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 2.92 | -573.0% |
| 1991 | 2.97 | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 1.19 | -59.9% |
| 1993 | -1.46 | -222.7% |
| 1994 | 1.57 | -207.4% |
| 1995 | 0.4748 | -69.8% |
| 1996 | 0.9257 | +95.0% |
| 1997 | 2.83 | +205.5% |
| 1998 | 3.04 | +7.4% |
| 1999 | 1.91 | -37.0% |
| 2000 | 1.67 | -12.7% |
| 2001 | 1.28 | -23.1% |
| 2002 | 2.38 | +85.1% |
| 2003 | 2.56 | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 3.48 | +35.9% |
| 2005 | 5.71 | +64.4% |
| 2006 | 8.29 | +45.1% |
| 2007 | 9.8 | +18.2% |
| 2008 | 9.01 | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 4.69 | -48.0% |
| 2010 | 3.84 | -18.2% |
| 2011 | 1.78 | -53.6% |
| 2012 | 2.49 | +39.8% |
| 2013 | 1.52 | -38.9% |
| 2014 | 2.22 | +46.1% |
| 2015 | 2.62 | +17.8% |
| 2016 | 1.65 | -36.9% |
| 2017 | 1.51 | -8.5% |
| 2018 | 0.1813 | -88.0% |
| 2019 | 0.6993 | +285.7% |
| 2020 | 1.65 | +136.2% |
| 2021 | 1.94 | +17.4% |
| 2022 | 2.41 | +24.3% |
| 2023 | 1.43 | -40.6% |
| 2024 | 2.26 | +57.9% |
| 2025 | 3.7 | +63.8% |
| 2026 | 3.21 | -13.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.21 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -1.34. (8 countries reporting)
- China's 3.21 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -2.2. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | -628.6% | 0.5735 | -3.03 |
| 1990 | +573.0% | -0.6176 | 2.92 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -0.2564 | -3.03 | 1.82 | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.64 | -1.46 | 3.04 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.89 | 1.28 | 9.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.85 | 0.1813 | 3.84 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.37 | 1.43 | 3.7 | 7 |
Countries ranked near China
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0081 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 111.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 79.98 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 87.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 56.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of in China?
- Economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of in China was 3.21 in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 9.8 in 2007.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.03 in 1985.
- How does China rank for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of?
- China ranks 10th out of 39 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 94.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of GDP. 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