New Zealand Current Account Balance
Current account balance as % of GDP BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS
New Zealand's current account balance was -4.71% in 2025, ranked 138th globally. This represents a 1.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's current account balance stood at -4.71% in 2025, a decline of +0.05% from 2024. The IMF projects -4.71% by 2025. New Zealand ranked 138th globally.
New Zealand’s current‑account balance has remained persistently negative, standing at –4.71 % of GDP in 2025, which places the country 138th in the World Bank rankings. The balance deteriorated from an early‑record –4.00 % in 1980 to a historic trough of –8.84 % in 1984, before briefly improving to a peak of –0.33 % in 1988. Over the 46‑year series, the average deficit has hovered around –4 %, reflecting a structural reliance on imported goods and services that exceeds export earnings. Comparable small, open economies such as Armenia (–4.66 % in 2025) and the Solomon Islands (–4.64 % in 2025) exhibit similar deficit levels, underscoring the challenges faced by nations with limited diversification. The recent widening to –4.71 % suggests that without significant gains in export competitiveness or reductions in import intensity, the deficit is likely to persist, although a sustained shift toward higher‑value services could gradually improve the trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Current Account Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | -3.39% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | -3.60% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | -3.95% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | -4.15% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | -4.37% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | -4.71% | - | - |
| 2025 | -4.71% | −0.05% | #138 |
| 2024 | -4.65% | +2.27% | #49 |
| 2023 | -6.18% | +3.07% | #49 |
| 2022 | -8.76% | −2.73% | #45 |
| 2021 | -5.64% | −4.57% | #57 |
| 2020 | -1.08% | +1.77% | #104 |
| 2019 | -2.82% | +1.41% | #79 |
| 2018 | -4.16% | −1.29% | #68 |
| 2017 | -2.92% | −0.87% | #84 |
| 2016 | -2.15% | +0.66% | #112 |
| 2015 | -2.62% | +0.51% | #99 |
| 2014 | -3.09% | +0.08% | #95 |
| 2013 | -3.06% | +0.87% | #101 |
| 2012 | -3.90% | −1.11% | #87 |
| 2011 | -2.86% | −0.58% | #101 |
Analysis
New Zealand's current account balance was -4.71% in 2025, a decline of −0.05% from 2024. IMF projects -4.71% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's current account balance was -4.71% in 2025. Ranked 138th globally. This represents a 1.1% decrease from the previous year.
New Zealand's current account balance peaked at -0.33% in 1988.
The lowest current account balance in New Zealand was -8.84% in 1984.
New Zealand ranks 138th globally in current account balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's current account balance is projected to reach -4.71% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The current account balance of New Zealand in 2025 was -4.71%. This ranks 138th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_current-account,
title = {New Zealand Current Account Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/current-account/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}