Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance was -109.35 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1960–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is -109.35 billion, measured in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 67 years on record.
The figure is down 15.9% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 4.91 billion in 1981 and was at its lowest, -109.35 billion, in 2026.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 25th of 36 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 — Current account balance in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -196.00 million | — |
| 1961 | 94.00 million | -148.0% |
| 1962 | 202.00 million | +114.9% |
| 1963 | 175.00 million | -13.4% |
| 1964 | -324.00 million | -285.1% |
| 1965 | -34.00 million | -89.5% |
| 1966 | 152.00 million | -547.1% |
| 1967 | -273.00 million | -279.6% |
| 1968 | -272.00 million | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 439.00 million | -261.4% |
| 1970 | 769.00 million | +75.2% |
| 1971 | 1.07 billion | +39.3% |
| 1972 | 86.00 million | -92.0% |
| 1973 | -1.15 billion | -1432.6% |
| 1974 | -3.37 billion | +194.4% |
| 1975 | -1.75 billion | -48.1% |
| 1976 | -1.02 billion | -42.0% |
| 1977 | -298.00 million | -70.7% |
| 1978 | 837.00 million | -380.9% |
| 1979 | -953.00 million | -213.9% |
| 1980 | 1.80 billion | -289.3% |
| 1981 | 4.91 billion | +172.4% |
| 1982 | 2.35 billion | -52.3% |
| 1983 | 1.43 billion | -38.9% |
| 1984 | -1.07 billion | -174.9% |
| 1985 | -253.00 million | -76.4% |
| 1986 | -3.29 billion | +1199.6% |
| 1987 | -6.60 billion | +100.8% |
| 1988 | -18.27 billion | +176.8% |
| 1989 | -23.45 billion | +28.3% |
| 1990 | -18.98 billion | -19.1% |
| 1991 | -7.69 billion | -59.5% |
| 1992 | -9.38 billion | +22.0% |
| 1993 | -8.10 billion | -13.7% |
| 1994 | -1.52 billion | -81.3% |
| 1995 | -3.24 billion | +113.8% |
| 1996 | -2.40 billion | -25.9% |
| 1997 | -1.33 billion | -44.7% |
| 1998 | -2.81 billion | +111.6% |
| 1999 | -22.06 billion | +684.0% |
| 2000 | -20.16 billion | -8.6% |
| 2001 | -20.32 billion | +0.8% |
| 2002 | -23.51 billion | +15.7% |
| 2003 | -22.94 billion | -2.4% |
| 2004 | -30.45 billion | +32.7% |
| 2005 | -27.95 billion | -8.2% |
| 2006 | -45.93 billion | +64.4% |
| 2007 | -57.60 billion | +25.4% |
| 2008 | -61.54 billion | +6.9% |
| 2009 | -47.52 billion | -22.8% |
| 2010 | -44.41 billion | -6.6% |
| 2011 | -27.11 billion | -39.0% |
| 2012 | -53.91 billion | +98.9% |
| 2013 | -82.73 billion | +53.5% |
| 2014 | -93.53 billion | +13.1% |
| 2015 | -94.82 billion | +1.4% |
| 2016 | -108.50 billion | +14.4% |
| 2017 | -72.75 billion | -32.9% |
| 2018 | -84.52 billion | +16.2% |
| 2019 | -60.05 billion | -29.0% |
| 2020 | -61.72 billion | +2.8% |
| 2021 | -9.99 billion | -83.8% |
| 2022 | -53.09 billion | +431.7% |
| 2023 | -95.12 billion | +79.2% |
| 2024 | -75.73 billion | -20.4% |
| 2025 | -94.34 billion | +24.6% |
| 2026 | -109.35 billion | +15.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -3.70 million | -324.00 million | 439.00 million | 10 |
| 1970s | -577.60 million | -3.37 billion | 1.07 billion | 10 |
| 1980s | -4.24 billion | -23.45 billion | 4.91 billion | 10 |
| 1990s | -7.75 billion | -22.06 billion | -1.33 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | -35.79 billion | -61.54 billion | -20.16 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | -72.23 billion | -108.50 billion | -27.11 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | -71.33 billion | -109.35 billion | -9.99 billion | 7 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0768 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 4,422 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.0583 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 3,359 current LCU per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.0764 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 4,399 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 2,899 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 4.52 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was -109.35 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.91 billion in 1981.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -109.35 billion in 2026.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 25th out of 36 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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