Short-term debt in South Asia
South Asia: Short-term debt was 17.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
In 2024, short-term debt in South Asia stood at 17.7%.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in South Asia peaked at 22.0% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2001.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Short-term debt in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.6% | — |
| 1971 | 3.7% | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 3.6% | -3.7% |
| 1974 | 3.4% | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 3.3% | -2.7% |
| 1976 | 3.3% | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 3.3% | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 4.1% | +23.0% |
| 1979 | 4.2% | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 6.4% | +52.7% |
| 1981 | 7.0% | +9.2% |
| 1982 | 8.4% | +20.1% |
| 1983 | 9.9% | +17.4% |
| 1984 | 9.7% | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 9.6% | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 9.2% | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 8.8% | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 9.2% | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 8.8% | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 8.8% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 7.3% | -17.8% |
| 1992 | 6.2% | -14.2% |
| 1993 | 3.6% | -43.0% |
| 1994 | 4.1% | +15.0% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | +17.9% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | +29.3% |
| 1997 | 4.8% | -22.8% |
| 1998 | 3.9% | -18.4% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | -12.4% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | -11.2% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | +34.5% |
| 2003 | 5.1% | +22.6% |
| 2004 | 5.4% | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | +22.9% |
| 2006 | 13.8% | +106.7% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 18.0% | +12.9% |
| 2009 | 17.2% | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 18.0% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 21.4% | +18.6% |
| 2012 | 22.0% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 20.5% | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 18.0% | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 16.9% | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 18.1% | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 18.8% | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 19.0% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 18.2% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 17.4% | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 18.3% | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 19.8% | +8.3% |
| 2023 | 18.0% | -8.8% |
| 2024 | 17.7% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.6% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.7% | 6.4% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.4% | 3.6% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.3% | 3.1% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.1% | 16.9% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.2% | 17.4% | 19.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More external debt data for South Asia
- IFC, private nonguaranteed 1.63 billion NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP 0.0004 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita 0.9692 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 49.97 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 0.8% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 0.0136 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA 22.81 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD 1.94 billion NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 3.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in South Asia?
- Short-term debt in South Asia was 17.7% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.0% in 2012.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2001.
- How does South Asia rank for short-term debt?
- South Asia ranks 7th out of 12 groups with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Short-term debt (% of total external debt). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt.