Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP was 23.3% in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
23.3%
Change on year
down 2.7%
Rank
3rd
of 5 groups
All-time high
76.7%
in 1994
All-time low
0.0%
in 1970
Years of data
42
1970–2011

Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1970–2011

0204060801970199020111970: 0.003 % of GDP1971: 13.4 % of GDP1972: 13.7 % of GDP1973: 13.9 % of GDP1974: 13.4 % of GDP1975: 14.5 % of GDP1976: 15.4 % of GDP1977: 19.6 % of GDP1978: 23 % of GDP1979: 22.8 % of GDP1980: 22.4 % of GDP1981: 25.5 % of GDP1982: 30.2 % of GDP1983: 36.5 % of GDP1984: 40.1 % of GDP1985: 50.7 % of GDP1986: 51.9 % of GDP1987: 53.7 % of GDP1988: 51.8 % of GDP1989: 52.1 % of GDP1990: 58.7 % of GDP1991: 58.8 % of GDP1992: 58.9 % of GDP1993: 66 % of GDP1994: 76.7 % of GDP1995: 72.1 % of GDP1996: 68.1 % of GDP1997: 64.7 % of GDP1998: 70.1 % of GDP1999: 66.2 % of GDP2000: 63.6 % of GDP2001: 62.5 % of GDP2002: 63.9 % of GDP2003: 54 % of GDP2004: 46 % of GDP2005: 36.3 % of GDP2006: 25.8 % of GDP2007: 25.1 % of GDP2008: 23 % of GDP2009: 26.8 % of GDP2010: 24 % of GDP2011: 23.3 % of GDP

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

Analysis

In 2011, debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 23.3%.

The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 62.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 76.7% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1970.

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

Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year

Annual values for Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP (% of GDP) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1970 to 2011.
Year % of GDP Change
1970 0.0%
1971 13.4% +405255.2%
1972 13.7% +2.0%
1973 13.9% +1.9%
1974 13.4% -4.0%
1975 14.5% +8.5%
1976 15.4% +5.7%
1977 19.6% +27.7%
1978 23.0% +17.4%
1979 22.8% -1.1%
1980 22.4% -1.7%
1981 25.5% +14.0%
1982 30.2% +18.5%
1983 36.5% +20.8%
1984 40.1% +9.9%
1985 50.7% +26.4%
1986 51.9% +2.2%
1987 53.7% +3.4%
1988 51.8% -3.4%
1989 52.1% +0.4%
1990 58.7% +12.7%
1991 58.8% +0.1%
1992 58.9% +0.2%
1993 66.0% +12.0%
1994 76.7% +16.1%
1995 72.1% -6.0%
1996 68.1% -5.5%
1997 64.7% -5.0%
1998 70.1% +8.2%
1999 66.2% -5.4%
2000 63.6% -4.1%
2001 62.5% -1.6%
2002 63.9% +2.3%
2003 54.0% -15.5%
2004 46.0% -14.8%
2005 36.3% -21.1%
2006 25.8% -28.9%
2007 25.1% -2.7%
2008 23.0% -8.6%
2009 26.8% +16.8%
2010 24.0% -10.5%
2011 23.3% -2.7%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Debt outstanding and disbursed, Total to GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1971 +405255.2% 0.0% 13.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 15.0% 0.0% 23.0% 10
1980s 41.5% 22.4% 53.7% 10
1990s 66.0% 58.7% 76.7% 10
2000s 42.7% 23.0% 63.9% 10
2010s 23.7% 23.3% 24.0% 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

  1. 1 Somalia 258.5% compare
  2. 2 Seychelles 167.9% compare
  3. 3 Sao Tome and Principe 93.0% compare
  4. 4 Djibouti 85.2% compare
  5. 5 Zimbabwe 65.0% compare
  6. 6 Mauritania 64.3% compare

See the full ranking of 55 places →

More external debt data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) →

Frequently asked questions

What is debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 23.3% in 2011, according to World Bank, Global Development Finance.
What is the highest debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
The highest recorded value was 76.7% in 1994.
What is the lowest debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1970.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp?
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 3rd out of 5 groups with data for 2011.
Is debt outstanding and disbursed, total to gdp rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Over the last ten years it is down 62.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income). Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Global Development Finance. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/debt-outstanding-and-disbursed-total-to-gdp-percent-of-gdp/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/

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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.