Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in Germany
Germany: Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance was 171.49 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in Germany, 1971–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in Germany is 171.49 billion, measured in 2026.
That represents a change of down 18.6% on the previous year and down 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in Germany peaked at 296.03 billion in 2018 and was at its lowest, -33.34 billion, in 2000.
Germany ranks 6th of 36 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 in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.86 billion | — |
| 1972 | 2.44 billion | -14.5% |
| 1973 | 8.54 billion | +249.3% |
| 1974 | 16.05 billion | +88.0% |
| 1975 | 7.48 billion | -53.4% |
| 1976 | 5.41 billion | -27.6% |
| 1977 | 4.99 billion | -7.8% |
| 1978 | 10.52 billion | +111.0% |
| 1979 | -5.77 billion | -154.8% |
| 1980 | -16.45 billion | +185.1% |
| 1981 | -7.67 billion | -53.4% |
| 1982 | 7.22 billion | -194.2% |
| 1983 | 5.52 billion | -23.5% |
| 1984 | 15.40 billion | +178.8% |
| 1985 | 29.16 billion | +89.3% |
| 1986 | 48.33 billion | +65.7% |
| 1987 | 45.01 billion | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 53.82 billion | +19.6% |
| 1989 | 61.13 billion | +13.6% |
| 1990 | 43.98 billion | -28.1% |
| 1991 | -20.82 billion | -147.3% |
| 1992 | -19.12 billion | -8.2% |
| 1993 | -16.92 billion | -11.5% |
| 1994 | -26.61 billion | +57.3% |
| 1995 | -20.13 billion | -24.4% |
| 1996 | -9.35 billion | -53.6% |
| 1997 | -6.20 billion | -33.7% |
| 1998 | -10.60 billion | +71.0% |
| 1999 | -24.64 billion | +132.5% |
| 2000 | -33.34 billion | +35.3% |
| 2001 | -2.88 billion | -91.4% |
| 2002 | 46.61 billion | -1718.4% |
| 2003 | 36.03 billion | -22.7% |
| 2004 | 102.79 billion | +185.3% |
| 2005 | 108.24 billion | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 141.46 billion | +30.7% |
| 2007 | 172.99 billion | +22.3% |
| 2008 | 147.11 billion | -15.0% |
| 2009 | 147.25 billion | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 148.42 billion | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 174.18 billion | +17.4% |
| 2012 | 205.85 billion | +18.2% |
| 2013 | 195.60 billion | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 220.05 billion | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 252.60 billion | +14.8% |
| 2016 | 285.10 billion | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 271.94 billion | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 296.03 billion | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 288.00 billion | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 216.89 billion | -24.7% |
| 2021 | 256.61 billion | +18.3% |
| 2022 | 152.34 billion | -40.6% |
| 2023 | 232.50 billion | +52.6% |
| 2024 | 244.19 billion | +5.0% |
| 2025 | 210.73 billion | -13.7% |
| 2026 | 171.49 billion | -18.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 171.49 billion is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.53 billion, 48.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Germany's 171.49 billion is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 13.51 billion, 12.7× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +1718.4% | -2.88 billion | 46.61 billion |
| 1973 | +249.3% | 2.44 billion | 8.54 billion |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.83 billion | -5.77 billion | 16.05 billion | 9 |
| 1980s | 24.15 billion | -16.45 billion | 61.13 billion | 10 |
| 1990s | -11.04 billion | -26.61 billion | 43.98 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.63 billion | -33.34 billion | 172.99 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | 233.78 billion | 148.42 billion | 296.03 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 212.11 billion | 152.34 billion | 256.61 billion | 7 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 3 Croatia -925.74 million compare
- 3 Netherlands 111.77 billion compare
- 3 Hungary 465.44 billion compare
- 4 Slovenia 3.02 billion compare
- 4 Sweden 460.90 billion compare
- 5 Lithuania 1.91 billion compare
- 5 Denmark 391.77 billion compare
- 6 Estonia -1.22 billion compare
- 7 Ireland 81.60 billion compare
- 7 Latvia -1.53 billion compare
- 8 Israel 75.63 billion compare
- 8 Poland -45.73 billion compare
- 9 Czechia 67.75 billion compare
- 9 Türkiye -708.02 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 — current account balance in Germany?
- Economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in Germany was 171.49 billion in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 296.03 billion in 2018.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was -33.34 billion in 2000.
- How does Germany rank for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance?
- Germany ranks 6th out of 36 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.8%. 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 — 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 (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