Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Ghana
Ghana: Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) was 3.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Ghana, 1975–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
Analysis
The most recent figure for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Ghana is 3.7%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 32.9% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Ghana peaked at 55.0% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2011.
Ghana ranks 97th of 118 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 6.5% | — |
| 1976 | 5.8% | -10.4% |
| 1977 | 3.7% | -36.0% |
| 1978 | 7.4% | +99.5% |
| 1979 | 8.9% | +20.0% |
| 1980 | 11.6% | +30.5% |
| 1981 | 10.0% | -13.7% |
| 1982 | 11.0% | +9.5% |
| 1983 | 27.4% | +149.6% |
| 1984 | 18.9% | -30.9% |
| 1985 | 21.0% | +10.8% |
| 1986 | 25.5% | +21.9% |
| 1987 | 43.5% | +70.4% |
| 1988 | 55.0% | +26.4% |
| 1989 | 48.5% | -11.9% |
| 1990 | 36.5% | -24.8% |
| 1991 | 25.6% | -29.8% |
| 1992 | 25.9% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 23.2% | -10.4% |
| 1994 | 24.3% | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 23.3% | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 25.1% | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 30.4% | +21.1% |
| 1998 | 20.5% | -32.4% |
| 1999 | 18.9% | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 17.0% | -10.4% |
| 2001 | 11.3% | -33.1% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | -36.0% |
| 2003 | 7.1% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | -36.7% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -33.1% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | -15.0% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | -22.4% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | +22.5% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | +33.3% |
| 2014 | 4.9% | +35.5% |
| 2015 | 5.9% | +21.2% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | +49.8% |
| 2017 | 9.0% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 10.9% | +21.3% |
| 2019 | 9.0% | -17.7% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | +24.3% |
| 2021 | 12.5% | +12.5% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -37.0% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | -65.2% |
| 2024 | 3.7% | +32.9% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 3.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.4%, 43% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 3.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.0%, 46% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.5% | 3.7% | 8.9% | 5 |
| 1980s | 27.2% | 10.0% | 55.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.4% | 18.9% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 2.9% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 2.2% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.6% | 2.8% | 12.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More external debt data for Ghana
- IFC, private nonguaranteed -35.10 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita -1.02 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP -0.0004 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre -281.78 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 1.1% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA 843.42 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 24.5 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0101 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD -2.25 million NFL, current US$ (2005)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 2.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Ghana?
- Debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Ghana was 3.7% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 55.0% in 1988.
- What is the lowest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2011.
- How does Ghana rank for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and)?
- Ghana ranks 97th out of 118 countries with data for 2024.
- Is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt service, the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services, is expressed as a percentage of exports of goods and services--all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from residents to nonresidents of general merchandise, net exports of goods under merchanting, nonmonetary gold, and services. This series differs from the standard debt to exports series in that it covers only long-term public and publicly guaranteed debt and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.