Current Account Balance: Albania

Analysis# Albania Current Account Balance Albania's current account balance stands at -2.7% of GDP in 2026, reflecting a persistent external deficit. The country has never achieved a surplus since 1980, with its only positive balance of 1.7% occurring in 1993 during the post-communist transition. The metric has deteriorated dramatically overall, down 2,800% since 1980. While Albania's worst performance came during the 2008 financial crisis at -15.8% of GDP, the current deficit remains well above historical extremes. A dramatic recovery began in 2023, when the deficit contracted to -1.2% of GDP after years of decline following the 2020 pandemic spike of -8.6%. This improvement reflects stronger export performance and better trade dynamics. Projections through 2026 suggest the deficit will stabilize around -2.5% of GDP, indicating Albania has largely corrected its external imbalances from the 2008-2022 period while maintaining a manageable structural deficit consistent with its development stage.