Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP in Nigeria

Nigeria: Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP was 30.11 in 2031. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2031)
30.11
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
21st
of 26 countries
All-time high
53.23
in 1991
All-time low
5.17
in 2008
Years of data
42
1990–2031

Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP in Nigeria, 1990–2031

10203040501990201020311990: 50.91991: 53.21992: 49.81993: 50.41994: 39.71995: 24.21996: 17.91997: 17.11998: 15.81999: 46.12000: 40.92001: 37.72002: 30.72003: 29.92004: 25.22005: 13.42006: 6.72007: 5.82008: 5.22009: 6.12010: 6.72011: 12.42012: 12.52013: 132014: 15.82015: 14.92016: 17.42017: 182018: 20.42019: 21.42020: 25.72021: 26.62022: 29.82023: 36.32024: 39.32025: 35.52026: 32.32027: 33.12028: 32.52029: 31.72030: 30.92031: 30.1

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross debt, general government, percent of gdp in Nigeria is 30.11, measured in 2031.

The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross debt, general government, percent of gdp in Nigeria peaked at 53.23 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 5.17, in 2008.

That places Nigeria 21st out of 26 countries with data for 2031, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP (9/26/2025) in Nigeria, 1990 to 2031.
Year Value Change
1990 50.9
1991 53.23 +4.6%
1992 49.83 -6.4%
1993 50.44 +1.2%
1994 39.69 -21.3%
1995 24.17 -39.1%
1996 17.9 -25.9%
1997 17.14 -4.2%
1998 15.81 -7.8%
1999 46.11 +191.7%
2000 40.9 -11.3%
2001 37.7 -7.8%
2002 30.72 -18.5%
2003 29.89 -2.7%
2004 25.2 -15.7%
2005 13.45 -46.6%
2006 6.68 -50.3%
2007 5.76 -13.7%
2008 5.17 -10.4%
2009 6.12 +18.4%
2010 6.67 +9.0%
2011 12.38 +85.6%
2012 12.48 +0.8%
2013 12.99 +4.1%
2014 15.76 +21.4%
2015 14.93 -5.3%
2016 17.38 +16.4%
2017 18.01 +3.6%
2018 20.38 +13.2%
2019 21.44 +5.2%
2020 25.72 +20.0%
2021 26.62 +3.5%
2022 29.84 +12.1%
2023 36.34 +21.8%
2024 39.33 +8.2%
2025 35.48 -9.8%
2026 32.33 -8.9%
2027 33.09 +2.3%
2028 32.49 -1.8%
2029 31.73 -2.3%
2030 30.94 -2.5%
2031 30.11 -2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 36.52 15.81 53.23 10
2000s 20.16 5.17 40.9 10
2010s 15.24 6.67 21.44 10
2020s 32.3 25.72 39.33 10
2030s 30.52 30.11 30.94 2

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 18 Saudi Arabia 42.22 compare
  2. 19 Estonia 41.21 compare
  3. 20 Honduras 34.46 compare
  4. 22 Chinese Taipei 27.56 compare
  5. 23 Türkiye 27.49 compare
  6. 24 United Arab Emirates 26.01 compare

See the full ranking of 26 places →

More external debt data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross debt, general government, percent of gdp in Nigeria?
Gross debt, general government, percent of gdp in Nigeria was 30.11 in 2031, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest gross debt, general government, percent of gdp recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 53.23 in 1991.
What is the lowest gross debt, general government, percent of gdp recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 5.17 in 2008.
How does Nigeria rank for gross debt, general government, percent of gdp?
Nigeria ranks 21st out of 26 countries with data for 2031.
Is gross debt, general government, percent of gdp rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP (9/26/2025). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/gross-debt-general-government-percent-of-gdp-9-26-2025/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP (9/26/2025)
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
26 places, 966 data points, 1980–2031
Last refreshed

The World Economic Outlook (WEO) database is created during the biannual WEO exercise, which begins in January and June of each year and results in the April and September/October WEO publication. Selected series from the publication are available in a database format.