External debt as a share of gross national income in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: External debt as a share of gross national income was 58.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
External debt as a share of gross national income in Sri Lanka, 2000–2024
Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt as a share of gross national income in Sri Lanka is 58.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 21.0% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt as a share of gross national income in Sri Lanka peaked at 81.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 37.4%, in 2010.
Sri Lanka ranks 39th of 121 countries on this measure, 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 57.8% | — |
| 2001 | 57.9% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 62.2% | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 57.3% | -7.8% |
| 2004 | 56.7% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 46.9% | -17.3% |
| 2006 | 42.5% | -9.3% |
| 2007 | 44.3% | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 41.1% | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 46.9% | +14.2% |
| 2010 | 37.4% | -20.3% |
| 2011 | 38.4% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 51.6% | +34.3% |
| 2013 | 52.2% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 52.4% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 52.9% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 54.4% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 55.1% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 57.5% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 64.8% | +12.8% |
| 2020 | 69.3% | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 67.9% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 81.3% | +19.8% |
| 2023 | 74.6% | -8.2% |
| 2024 | 58.9% | -21.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.3% | 41.1% | 62.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.7% | 37.4% | 64.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.4% | 58.9% | 81.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 5.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 266.14 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 1.33 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 4.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.8249 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 4,126 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), annual growth 4.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), per unit of 112.14 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt as a share of gross national income in Sri Lanka?
- External debt as a share of gross national income in Sri Lanka was 58.9% 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 81.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.4% in 2010.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for external debt as a share of gross national income?
- Sri Lanka ranks 39th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt as a share of gross national income rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 (%).