Current Account Balance: Afghanistan

Analysis# Afghanistan Current Account Balance Afghanistan's current account balance stands at -20.3% of GDP in 2023, marking the worst performance in the 22-year data period. This represents a dramatic reversal from the all-time peak of 63.4% in 2007, reflecting a total swing of 159.9 percentage points since 2002. The country has experienced sustained deterioration, moving from a modest surplus of 6.5% in 2014 to deepening deficits in recent years. The most significant inflection point occurred between 2020 and 2021, when Afghanistan's surplus of 14% collapsed to near-zero at -0.1%. The deficit accelerated sharply thereafter, reaching -18.5% in 2022 before worsening to -20.3% in 2023. This trajectory reflects Afghanistan's growing external imbalances and reliance on external financing, with the deficit continuing to widen despite stabilization efforts.