The invention relates to an outer-winding type current transformer used in the electric power industry. The outer-winding type current transformer is composed of a primary conducting bar, a primary winding, a shell, a conducting tube, a secondary winding, a secondary conducting bar, an overvoltage protector, an insulation terminal, an inner insulation plate, an outer insulation plate, a protective cover, a conducting base and the like. A sleeve is arranged on a base, the secondary winding is arranged in an inner cavity of the shell, the primary conducting bar is connected with the primary winding through a lead, the protective cover is arranged on the outer side of the shell, the primary winding penetrates through the conducting tube to be arranged in the protective cover, and various grades of coil taps of the primary winding are respectively connected with the secondary conducting bar. Due to the fact that multiple turns of primary winding coils are arranged in the conducting tube in the secondary winding in a penetrated mode, the current with the low current ratio is increased, and the current output range is expanded; due to the arrangement of the overvoltage protector, devices of the current transformer can be protected; due to the fact that the primary winding penetrates through the conducting tube to be evenly distributed in the protective cover outside the shell, the winding accuracy is high.