Current Account Balance: Ecuador

Analysis# Ecuador Current Account Balance Ecuador's current account balance reached 3.4% of GDP in 2026, reflecting a strong recovery from the deficits that dominated much of the 1980s and 1990s. The country's all-time peak of 6.3% occurred in 2000, while the worst performance came in 1987 at -9.6% of GDP. Since 1980, the metric has improved by 185%, demonstrating a fundamental shift in Ecuador's external position over four decades. The most significant turning point occurred around 2020, when Ecuador swung from consecutive deficits into sustained surpluses. Between 2017 and 2019, the country struggled with negative balances ranging from -0.4% to -1.5%, but pandemic-era commodity price increases reversed this trend decisively. The 2024 peak of 5.7% marked the strongest recent performance, with projections indicating a gradual moderation to 3.4% by 2026 as global conditions normalize.