The current-account balance as a share of GDP (BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS) is exports minus imports of goods and services, plus net primary income and current transfers, divided by GDP. A surplus means the economy is a net lender to the rest of the world. Latest: 17.40% in 2024.
A large surplus or deficit is not automatically good or bad; it depends on saving, investment and the exchange rate. From 2005 to 2024 (20 years): latest 17.40% (2024), previous year 7.89% (2023); low -20.56% (2019), high 17.40% (2024).
The current account includes trade in goods and services, income and transfers. A negative balance is a deficit and a positive balance a surplus. The GDP ratio alone does not establish whether the position is good or bad.
World Bank: BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS
About this desk
Related economies: Ireland · United Kingdom · United States · Germany · France
Country desks use the same observations as the all-countries pages. Displayed observations use each economy’s latest published year, which can differ between economies. Missing observations are not zero and are not interpolated or carried forward. Source revisions appear after a rebuild.
The Country selector changes desks. Chart and Table show the same selected series; range and zoom controls change the view without recalculating observations. Source names and licences identify the producers. The figures are historical information, not forecasts or recommendations.
Ireland’s levels can move sharply when multinational activity shifts. These pages report a large annual change without establishing its cause.