Definition
In the Balance of Payments, the current account includes transactions of goods and services, primary income, and secondary income between residents and non-residents. The current account balance shows the difference between the sum of exports of goods and services and income receipts, and the sum of imports of goods and services and income payments.
Further information
The current account balance is equivalent to the gap between a country’s savings and investment.
The Balance of Payments and the International Investment Position. Methodological Note.
Related concepts
- Balance of Payments
- Capital account (Balance of Payments)
- Primary income (Balance of Payments)
- Secondary income (Balance of Payments)
References
Legal frame
- Regulation (EC) No 184/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 January 2005 on Community statistics concerning balance of payments, international trade in services and foreign direct investment
- 2012/120/EU: Guideline of the European Central Bank, of December 9, 2011, on the statistical reporting requirements of the European Central Bank in the field of external statistics (recast version) (ECB/2011/23).
Links to data tables
Selection of tables
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Current and capital accounts of the Balance of Payments. Monthly data.
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Current and capital accounts of the Balance of Payments. Breakdown by economic and geographical areas. Annual.
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Current and capital accounts of the Balance of Payments. Breakdown by economic and geographical areas. Annual.
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Current and capital accounts of the Balance of Payments. Monthly data.
Other resources
- BExplore the external statistics (interactive charts).
- In brief. Graphical summary of external statistics.
Update date: January 2025
