Lebanon Current Account Balance
Current account balance as % of GDP BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS
Lebanon's current account balance was -19.68% in 2024, ranked 8th globally. This represents a 21.0% increase from 2023. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2024.
Overview
Lebanon's current account balance stood at -19.68% in 2024, a rise of +5.23% from 2023. Lebanon ranked 8th globally.
Lebanon’s current‑account balance has deteriorated sharply over the 45‑year series, moving from a modest surplus of 37.81 in 1982 to a deep deficit of –57.46 in 1991, the all‑time trough, before stabilising at –19.68 in 2024, which ranks the country eighth globally for the largest negative balance. The persistent deficit reflects chronic external financing gaps, a weakened export sector and recurring fiscal imbalances that have limited foreign‑exchange earnings. Compared with peers of similar rank, Grenada posted a slightly worse balance of –19.74 and Bhutan –20.01, underscoring that Lebanon’s external position is among the most strained in the group of small economies. The early‑1980s surplus was an outlier driven by a brief export boom and remittance inflows, while the 1991 plunge coincided with civil war fallout and banking sector collapse. If structural reforms boost export diversification, improve fiscal discipline and attract sustainable capital inflows, the current‑account deficit could narrow, altering the long‑term trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Current Account Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -19.68% | +5.23% | #8 |
| 2023 | -28.10% | +1.90% | #5 |
| 2022 | -34.61% | −11.57% | #3 |
| 2021 | -19.70% | −8.57% | #8 |
| 2020 | -8.76% | +12.99% | #40 |
| 2019 | -21.83% | +2.52% | #6 |
| 2018 | -24.35% | −1.47% | #6 |
| 2017 | -22.88% | −2.41% | #1 |
| 2016 | -20.48% | −3.37% | #10 |
| 2015 | -17.11% | +9.12% | #11 |
| 2014 | -26.23% | −0.72% | #4 |
| 2013 | -25.51% | −2.07% | #6 |
| 2012 | -23.44% | −9.60% | #8 |
| 2011 | -13.83% | +4.31% | #23 |
| 2010 | -19.64% | +0.24% | #9 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lebanon matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw current account balance improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lebanon's current account balance was -19.68% in 2024. Ranked 8th globally. This represents a 21.0% increase from the previous year.
Lebanon's current account balance peaked at 37.81% in 1982.
The lowest current account balance in Lebanon was -57.46% in 1991.
Lebanon ranks 8th globally in current account balance as of 2024.
The World Bank indicator code is BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The current account balance of Lebanon in 2024 was -19.68%. This ranks 8th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lebanon_current-account,
title = {Lebanon Current Account Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lebanon/current-account/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}