Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) was 9.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Least developed countries, 1973–2024
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 Least developed countries is 9.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% on the previous year and up 55.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Least developed countries peaked at 29.6% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2011.
That places Least developed countries 11th out of 32 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 10.0% | — |
| 1974 | 10.5% | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 15.1% | +44.0% |
| 1978 | 13.3% | -12.4% |
| 1979 | 14.4% | +8.5% |
| 1980 | 16.3% | +13.5% |
| 1981 | 17.0% | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 17.9% | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 17.8% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 19.0% | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 22.2% | +17.3% |
| 1986 | 29.6% | +32.9% |
| 1987 | 24.8% | -16.0% |
| 1988 | 23.4% | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 21.5% | -8.2% |
| 1990 | 19.6% | -8.8% |
| 1991 | 20.9% | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 14.9% | -28.5% |
| 1993 | 13.7% | -8.2% |
| 1994 | 13.3% | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 13.7% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 13.9% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 12.5% | -10.3% |
| 1998 | 12.4% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 13.8% | +11.6% |
| 2000 | 12.5% | -9.5% |
| 2001 | 13.6% | +8.4% |
| 2002 | 9.8% | -28.0% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | -21.4% |
| 2006 | 7.1% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | -10.1% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | -44.2% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +53.7% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | -34.5% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | +32.4% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | +20.7% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | +21.5% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | +24.9% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | -13.9% |
| 2018 | 8.3% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | +11.6% |
| 2020 | 9.5% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 10.7% | +12.8% |
| 2022 | 8.0% | -24.7% |
| 2023 | 10.3% | +27.5% |
| 2024 | 9.6% | -6.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.7% | 10.0% | 15.1% | 5 |
| 1980s | 20.9% | 16.3% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.9% | 12.4% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.4% | 3.5% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 3.5% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.6% | 8.0% | 10.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More external debt data for Least developed countries
- IFC, private nonguaranteed 370.54 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita 0.3122 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP 0.0002 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 5.2 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 2.0% (2024)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 8.9% (2024)
- Net official development assistance received 53.67 billion current US$ (2018)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), annual growth rate 250.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Net official flows from UN agencies, CERF 540.53 million current US$ (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Least developed countries?
- Debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Least developed countries was 9.6% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 29.6% in 1986.
- What is the lowest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2011.
- How does Least developed countries rank for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and)?
- Least developed countries ranks 11th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.