Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in SSA low-income countries

SSA low-income countries: Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) was 25.69 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
25.69
Change on year
down 3.1%
Rank
11th
of 19 groups
All-time high
68.63
in 2001
All-time low
19.37
in 2012
Years of data
28
2000–2027

Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in SSA low-income countries, 2000–2027

2030405060702000201320272000: 61.42001: 68.62002: 62.32003: 62.52004: 58.62005: 51.12006: 36.92007: 28.92008: 24.92009: 26.42010: 21.22011: 20.12012: 19.42013: 21.12014: 22.12015: 25.22016: 272017: 27.82018: 26.22019: 27.22020: 30.82021: 29.82022: 27.42023: 26.52024: 27.12025: 282026: 26.52027: 25.7

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in SSA low-income countries is 25.69, measured in 2027.

That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 7.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in SSA low-income countries peaked at 68.63 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 19.37, in 2012.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.

Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in SSA low-income countries, year by year

Annual values for Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)) in SSA low-income countries, 2000 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2000 61.37
2001 68.63 +11.8%
2002 62.31 -9.2%
2003 62.5 +0.3%
2004 58.58 -6.3%
2005 51.08 -12.8%
2006 36.89 -27.8%
2007 28.93 -21.6%
2008 24.93 -13.8%
2009 26.39 +5.9%
2010 21.17 -19.8%
2011 20.12 -4.9%
2012 19.37 -3.8%
2013 21.06 +8.7%
2014 22.07 +4.8%
2015 25.2 +14.1%
2016 27.03 +7.3%
2017 27.84 +3.0%
2018 26.16 -6.1%
2019 27.16 +3.8%
2020 30.84 +13.6%
2021 29.8 -3.4%
2022 27.36 -8.2%
2023 26.49 -3.2%
2024 27.13 +2.4%
2025 28.03 +3.3%
2026 26.5 -5.5%
2027 25.69 -3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 48.16 24.93 68.63 10
2010s 23.72 19.37 27.84 10
2020s 27.73 25.69 30.84 8

Countries ranked near SSA low-income countries

  1. 8 Gambia 41.11 compare
  2. 9 Liberia 39.7 compare
  3. 10 Madagascar 39.67 compare
  4. 11 Lesotho 38.06 compare
  5. 12 Angola 36.12 compare
  6. 13 Cote d'Ivoire 33.29 compare
  7. 14 Seychelles 32.19 compare

See the full ranking of 64 places →

More external debt data for SSA low-income countries

All data for SSA low-income countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in SSA low-income countries?
Gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in SSA low-income countries was 25.69 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in SSA low-income countries?
The highest recorded value was 68.63 in 2001.
What is the lowest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in SSA low-income countries?
The lowest recorded value was 19.37 in 2012.
How does SSA low-income countries rank for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and)?
SSA low-income countries ranks 11th out of 19 groups with data for 2027.
Is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) rising or falling in SSA low-income countries?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this SSA low-income countries 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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Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in SSA low-income countries. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/gross-external-debt-percent-of-gdp-balance-of-payments-and-international-investment/ssa-low-income-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6))
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
64 places, 1,765 data points, 2000–2027
Last refreshed

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.