External debt as a share of gross national income in Pakistan
Pakistan: External debt as a share of gross national income was 35.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
External debt as a share of gross national income in Pakistan, 2000–2024
Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt as a share of gross national income in Pakistan stood at 35.6%.
The figure is down 9.7% on the previous year and up 48.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt as a share of gross national income in Pakistan peaked at 40.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 23.2%, in 2015.
That places Pakistan 79th out of 121 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
External debt as a share of gross national income in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 34.0% | — |
| 2001 | 34.1% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 35.9% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 33.6% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 28.4% | -15.5% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | -14.8% |
| 2006 | 23.6% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 23.6% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 25.3% | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 31.1% | +23.1% |
| 2010 | 32.8% | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | -12.8% |
| 2012 | 25.9% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 23.6% | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 24.0% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 23.2% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 24.4% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 27.9% | +14.3% |
| 2018 | 28.6% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 34.9% | +22.3% |
| 2020 | 40.0% | +14.5% |
| 2021 | 38.0% | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 34.5% | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 39.5% | +14.3% |
| 2024 | 35.6% | -9.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.4% | 23.6% | 35.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.4% | 23.2% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.5% | 34.5% | 40.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More economy & growth data for Pakistan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.11 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 7.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 262.68 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 419,215 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 3.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.984 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 1,570 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), annual growth 3.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), per unit of 100.64 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt as a share of gross national income in Pakistan?
- External debt as a share of gross national income in Pakistan was 35.6% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.2% in 2015.
- How does Pakistan rank for external debt as a share of gross national income?
- Pakistan ranks 79th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt as a share of gross national income rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External debt as a share of gross national income. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
External debt stocks as a proportion of GNI (%).