Ireland Current Account Balance
Current account balance as % of GDP BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS
Ireland's current account balance was 11.11% in 2025, ranked 14th globally. This represents a 36.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Ireland's current account balance stood at 11.11% in 2025, a decline of +6.29% from 2024. The IMF projects 11.11% by 2025. Ireland ranked 14th globally.
Ireland’s current‑account balance has swung dramatically over the past four and a half decades, moving from a deficit of –10.56 % of GDP in 1980 to a surplus of 11.11 % in 2025, ranking fourteenth globally. The most pronounced reversal occurred after the 2019 trough of –20.56 %, when a combination of robust export growth, foreign‑direct investment inflows and a post‑Brexit reorientation of trade propelled the balance upward, culminating in an all‑time peak of 17.40 % in 2024. Compared with peer economies, Ireland’s 2025 surplus exceeds Luxembourg’s 12.16 % and Denmark’s 12.23 % while remaining above Qatar’s 10.83 %. The sustained surplus reflects a structural shift toward high‑value services and multinational activity, but future trajectories will hinge on global demand for Irish‑based tech and pharma exports, as well as any changes in corporate tax policy that could alter profit‑repatriation flows.
Data & projection
| Year | Current Account Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 9.64% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 10.31% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 10.78% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 11.11% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 11.51% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 11.11% | - | - |
| 2025 | 11.11% | −6.29% | #14 |
| 2024 | 17.40% | +10.36% | #186 |
| 2023 | 7.89% | −0.88% | #169 |
| 2022 | 8.83% | −3.35% | #162 |
| 2021 | 12.28% | +19.36% | #181 |
| 2020 | -6.72% | +14.00% | #49 |
| 2019 | -20.56% | −24.85% | #8 |
| 2018 | 4.53% | +3.39% | #158 |
| 2017 | 1.65% | +2.89% | #142 |
| 2016 | -1.19% | −7.33% | #125 |
| 2015 | 6.17% | +4.11% | #174 |
| 2014 | 2.08% | −0.32% | #145 |
| 2013 | 2.40% | +5.76% | #152 |
| 2012 | -3.40% | −1.71% | #94 |
| 2011 | 1.17% | +2.46% | #144 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ireland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw current account balance improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ireland's current account balance was 11.11% in 2025. Ranked 14th globally. This represents a 36.1% decrease from the previous year.
Ireland's current account balance peaked at 17.40% in 2024.
The lowest current account balance in Ireland was -20.56% in 2019.
Ireland ranks 14th globally in current account balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ireland's current account balance is projected to reach 11.11% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The current account balance of Ireland in 2025 was 11.11%. This ranks 14th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ireland_current-account,
title = {Ireland Current Account Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ireland/current-account/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}