Primary income payments in North America
North America: Primary income payments was 1.72 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary income payments in North America, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, primary income payments in North America stood at 1.72 trillion BoP, current US$. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 136.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary income payments in North America peaked at 1.72 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 8.61 billion BoP, current US$, in 1970.
That places North America 6th out of 45 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary income payments in North America, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.61 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 9.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.3% |
| 1972 | 10.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1973 | 15.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.3% |
| 1974 | 20.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.1% |
| 1975 | 20.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 22.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1977 | 24.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.6% |
| 1978 | 35.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.5% |
| 1979 | 50.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +44.2% |
| 1980 | 61.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.3% |
| 1981 | 78.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.4% |
| 1982 | 78.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 76.16 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 99.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.1% |
| 1985 | 97.62 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 104.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 121.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.5% |
| 1988 | 150.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.0% |
| 1989 | 176.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.9% |
| 1990 | 179.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 156.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.4% |
| 1992 | 139.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1993 | 143.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 184.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.0% |
| 1995 | 232.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.5% |
| 1996 | 245.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 290.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.2% |
| 1998 | 300.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 338.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2000 | 399.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2001 | 331.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.0% |
| 2002 | 329.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 362.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 436.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.6% |
| 2005 | 555.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.1% |
| 2006 | 728.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.2% |
| 2007 | 843.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2008 | 798.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 604.95 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.2% |
| 2010 | 638.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 684.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 692.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 715.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 746.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 725.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 744.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 834.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.1% |
| 2018 | 958.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.9% |
| 2019 | 1.01 trillion BoP, current US$ | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 867.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 1.05 trillion BoP, current US$ | +20.7% |
| 2022 | 1.21 trillion BoP, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2023 | 1.49 trillion BoP, current US$ | +22.8% |
| 2024 | 1.68 trillion BoP, current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2025 | 1.72 trillion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 50.48 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 104.47 billion BoP, current US$ | 61.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 176.80 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 221.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 139.66 billion BoP, current US$ | 338.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 538.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 329.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 843.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 774.91 billion BoP, current US$ | 638.15 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.01 trillion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.34 trillion BoP, current US$ | 867.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.72 trillion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 3 China (People’s Republic of) 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 4 Ireland 451.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 5 Netherlands 433.43 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 6 Luxembourg 413.92 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 7 France 348.85 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 8 Singapore 321.53 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 9 Germany 284.85 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for North America
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure 2.9% (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 3.0% (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 20.19 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 25.64 trillion current US$ (2024)
- Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure 67.0% (2024)
- Imports of goods and services 15.4% (2024)
- External balance on goods and services -2.8% (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure per capita growth 1.7% (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure per capita 43,939 constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure 3.44 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary income payments in North America?
- Primary income payments in North America was 1.72 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest primary income payments recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 1.72 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary income payments recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 1970.
- How does North America rank for primary income payments?
- North America ranks 6th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is primary income payments rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 136.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Primary income payments (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary income payments refer to employee compensation paid to nonresident workers and investment income (payments on direct investment, portfolio investment, other investments).This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.