Economy
Current Account Balance
Definition
The difference between a country's total exports and total imports of goods, services, income, and transfers.
Explanation
A current account surplus means a country exports more than it imports (e.g., Germany, China). A deficit means it imports more (e.g., the United States). Persistent large deficits can indicate over-consumption or lack of competitiveness, while persistent surpluses may indicate under-consumption. The current account is one component of the balance of payments.
See Current Data
Explore current account balance data for all 218 countries with interactive charts and historical trends.
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