Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP in Ghana

Ghana: Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP was 28.8% in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
28.8%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
25th
of 50 countries
All-time high
125.6%
in 2000
All-time low
0.0%
in 1970
Years of data
42
1970–2011

Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP in Ghana, 1970–2011

0501001501970199020111970: 0.02 % of GDP1971: 22.6 % of GDP1972: 28.6 % of GDP1973: 30.7 % of GDP1974: 26.2 % of GDP1975: 26.2 % of GDP1976: 25.8 % of GDP1977: 33.4 % of GDP1978: 34.9 % of GDP1979: 31.9 % of GDP1980: 31.5 % of GDP1981: 36.4 % of GDP1982: 36.8 % of GDP1983: 41.1 % of GDP1984: 44.4 % of GDP1985: 49.8 % of GDP1986: 48 % of GDP1987: 64.7 % of GDP1988: 58.8 % of GDP1989: 62.7 % of GDP1990: 63.4 % of GDP1991: 62.9 % of GDP1992: 66.1 % of GDP1993: 76.6 % of GDP1994: 93.7 % of GDP1995: 85 % of GDP1996: 83.5 % of GDP1997: 82.9 % of GDP1998: 84.3 % of GDP1999: 84.3 % of GDP2000: 125.6 % of GDP2001: 123.5 % of GDP2002: 117 % of GDP2003: 103.4 % of GDP2004: 83.8 % of GDP2005: 66.9 % of GDP2006: 18.1 % of GDP2007: 20.7 % of GDP2008: 19.9 % of GDP2009: 27.7 % of GDP2010: 29 % of GDP2011: 28.8 % of GDP

Source: World Bank, Global Development Finance. Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

In 2011, debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp in Ghana stood at 28.8%.

The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 76.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp in Ghana peaked at 125.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1970.

That places Ghana 25th out of 50 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP in Ghana, year by year

Annual values for Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP (% of GDP) in Ghana, 1970 to 2011.
Year % of GDP Change
1970 0.0%
1971 22.6% +110634.5%
1972 28.6% +26.8%
1973 30.7% +7.1%
1974 26.2% -14.5%
1975 26.2% -0.3%
1976 25.8% -1.5%
1977 33.4% +29.8%
1978 34.9% +4.4%
1979 31.9% -8.6%
1980 31.5% -1.1%
1981 36.4% +15.6%
1982 36.8% +0.9%
1983 41.1% +11.7%
1984 44.4% +8.2%
1985 49.8% +12.1%
1986 48.0% -3.7%
1987 64.7% +35.0%
1988 58.8% -9.1%
1989 62.7% +6.7%
1990 63.4% +1.1%
1991 62.9% -0.7%
1992 66.1% +4.9%
1993 76.6% +16.0%
1994 93.7% +22.2%
1995 85.0% -9.2%
1996 83.5% -1.8%
1997 82.9% -0.7%
1998 84.3% +1.8%
1999 84.3% -0.1%
2000 125.6% +49.0%
2001 123.5% -1.7%
2002 117.0% -5.3%
2003 103.4% -11.6%
2004 83.8% -19.0%
2005 66.9% -20.1%
2006 18.1% -73.0%
2007 20.7% +14.2%
2008 19.9% -3.4%
2009 27.7% +38.8%
2010 29.0% +4.6%
2011 28.8% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 26.0% 0.0% 34.9% 10
1980s 47.4% 31.5% 64.7% 10
1990s 78.3% 62.9% 93.7% 10
2000s 70.7% 18.1% 125.6% 10
2010s 28.9% 28.8% 29.0% 2

Countries ranked near Ghana

  1. 22 Guinea-Bissau 29.3% compare
  2. 23 Morocco 29.0% compare
  3. 24 Liberia 29.0% compare
  4. 26 Ethiopia 28.4% compare
  5. 27 Madagascar 27.9% compare
  6. 28 South Africa 27.8% compare

See the full ranking of 55 places →

More external debt data for Ghana

All data for Ghana →

Frequently asked questions

What is debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp in Ghana?
Debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp in Ghana was 28.8% in 2011, according to World Bank, Global Development Finance.
What is the highest debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp recorded in Ghana?
The highest recorded value was 125.6% in 2000.
What is the lowest debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp recorded in Ghana?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1970.
How does Ghana rank for debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp?
Ghana ranks 25th out of 50 countries with data for 2011.
Is debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp rising or falling in Ghana?
Over the last ten years it is down 76.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ghana data come from?
The figures come from World Bank, Global Development Finance, published as part of Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP in Ghana. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Global Development Finance. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/debt-outstanding-and-disbursed-total-to-gdp-percent-of-gdp/ghana/

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About this data

Indicator
Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
World Bank, Global Development Finance
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
55 places, 2,062 data points, 1970–2011
Last refreshed

Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Data expressed as a percentage of GDP at market prices.