The balance of payments records all economic transactions between residents and non-residents within a given time period and thus shows a country’s complex economics links with the rest of the world.

Current data and changes compared with the previous month

Further information

100 years of the German balance of payments: 1924 to 2024

To mark the anniversary, we would like to take a look back. We will take you on a short journey through history and show you where the balance of payments in 1924 and 2024 are still very similar and where they differ (significantly).

Explanatory notes to the table: Anniversary: 100 years of balance of payments

When producing statistical results, a high value is given that the results are comparable over time. The basic concepts of the balance of payments remained very stable over the entire period presented. However, the focus of the presentation has changed significantly over time. It is therefore not trivial to present the results of 1924 and 2023 in a meaningful and uniform scheme. It would have been easier to translate the results at the current edge into the previous presentations. However, as a current user of the table knows the current presentation, we consider the usefulness of the table to be higher in the current presentation, even if only a rough allocation of the results was possible in the early years.

In the compilation of the results of the balance of payments since 1924 there are a number of serious limitations when comparing the results over time:

1. Economic area: Over time, the area of Germany has changed several times. The statistics map the external transactions of the respective country.
2. Currency: Before 1949, the results are presented in Reichsmark. Results from 1949 onwards are presented in euro. The results were converted into DM with the official exchange rate (1 euro = 1.95583 DM).
3. Concepts: The balance of payments is currently being compiled in accordance with the requirements of the 6th edition of the Balance of Payments Manual. 
   From 1991 to the current end, the results largely meet these requirements. 
   From 1971 to 1990, the implementation of the 6th edition (2014) carried out rough recalculations where possible.
   Before 1971, only the sign of the financial account was switched. No further adjustments were made to modified concepts.

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