Current Account Balance: Brunei Darussalam

Analysis# Brunei Darussalam Current Account Balance Brunei's current account balance stands at 16.6% of GDP in 2026, reflecting a dramatic contraction from its 1985 peak of 65.4% of GDP. The nation has experienced a 74.6% decline over four decades, though the current level remains well above the historic low of 4.3% recorded in 2020. The trajectory reveals a structural shift away from the oil-dependent surpluses that once defined Brunei's external position. The sharpest deterioration occurred between 1985 and 2018, when the balance fell to 6.9% of GDP amid global energy price volatility and declining hydrocarbon reserves. Recovery began in 2021, climbing from the pandemic-induced trough to 19.5% by 2022. Recent years show stabilization around 14–17% of GDP, suggesting Brunei has established a new equilibrium reflecting its maturing resource base and ongoing economic diversification efforts.