Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance was -109.35 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in United Kingdom, 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 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 peaked at 4.91 billion in 1981 and was at its lowest, -109.35 billion, in 2026.
United Kingdom 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, 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% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -109.35 billion is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.53 billion. (29 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -109.35 billion is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 13.51 billion. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | -1432.6% | 86.00 million | -1.15 billion |
| 1986 | -1199.6% | -253.00 million | -3.29 billion |
| 1999 | -684.0% | -2.81 billion | -22.06 billion |
| 1966 | +547.1% | -34.00 million | 152.00 million |
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
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 21.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in United Kingdom?
- Economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in United Kingdom 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was -109.35 billion in 2026.
- How does United Kingdom rank for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance?
- United Kingdom ranks 25th out of 36 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- 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 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