Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Benin
Benin: Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) was 51.1 in 2027. ◆ Volatile
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Benin, 2000–2027
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
Benin recorded 51.1 for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in 2027.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 205.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Benin peaked at 51.62 in 2026 and was at its lowest, 7.74, in 2006.
Benin ranks 7th of 45 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Benin, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.47 | — |
| 2001 | 36.83 | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 32.07 | -12.9% |
| 2003 | 24.31 | -24.2% |
| 2004 | 22.14 | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 24.74 | +11.8% |
| 2006 | 7.74 | -68.7% |
| 2007 | 8.53 | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 10.49 | +22.9% |
| 2009 | 11.01 | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 12.44 | +13.0% |
| 2011 | 11.53 | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 11.46 | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 12.62 | +10.1% |
| 2014 | 13.45 | +6.6% |
| 2015 | 15.19 | +13.0% |
| 2016 | 15.55 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 16.74 | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 18.54 | +10.7% |
| 2019 | 24.55 | +32.5% |
| 2020 | 30.32 | +23.5% |
| 2021 | 40.19 | +32.6% |
| 2022 | 43.33 | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 45.55 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 45.9 | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 50.66 | +10.4% |
| 2026 | 51.62 | +1.9% |
| 2027 | 51.1 | -1.0% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 51.1 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.53, 1.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Benin's 51.1 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.44, 1.7× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Benin 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | -68.7% | 24.74 | 7.74 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.53 | 7.74 | 37.47 | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.21 | 11.46 | 24.55 | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.83 | 30.32 | 51.62 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More external debt data for Benin
- IFC, private nonguaranteed 41.44 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita 2.87 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP 0.0019 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 0 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 4.5% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA 448.24 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 30.99 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0209 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 15.7% (2023)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per square kilometre 3,343 NFL, current US$ per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Benin?
- Gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Benin was 51.1 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 51.62 in 2026.
- What is the lowest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.74 in 2006.
- How does Benin rank for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and)?
- Benin ranks 7th out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
- Is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 205.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.