Current Account Balance: Antigua and Barbuda

Analysis# Antigua and Barbuda Current Account Balance Antigua and Barbuda's current account balance stands at -10.4% of GDP in 2026, reflecting persistent external imbalances. The nation has deteriorated significantly since 2014, moving from modest surpluses toward chronic deficits. The all-time peak of 2% in 2015 contrasts sharply with the devastating low of -17.8% in 2021, when pandemic-related tourism collapse devastated the economy. The current deficit remains far closer to historical lows than the brief period of balance achieved a decade ago. The most striking development emerged between 2021 and 2024, when the deficit narrowed from -17.8% to -8.2%, suggesting structural recovery in tourism and external demand. However, this improvement stalled in 2025-2026, with the balance deteriorating to -10.4%. The volatile pattern—swinging between -6.5% and -17.8% across recent years—indicates heavy dependence on tourism revenues and vulnerability to external shocks rather than sustainable economic adjustment.