External debt as a share of gni in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste: External debt as a share of gni was 12.62 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External debt as a share of gni in Timor-Leste, 2012–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Timor-Leste recorded 12.62 for external debt as a share of gni in 2023. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 33.1% on the previous year and up 484.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt as a share of gni in Timor-Leste peaked at 12.62 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.76, in 2012.
That places Timor-Leste 113th out of 118 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt as a share of gni in Timor-Leste, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1.76 | — |
| 2013 | 2.16 | +22.7% |
| 2014 | 3.13 | +44.9% |
| 2015 | 4.19 | +33.9% |
| 2016 | 3.64 | -13.1% |
| 2017 | 5.52 | +51.6% |
| 2018 | 7.07 | +28.1% |
| 2019 | 7.09 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 9.79 | +38.1% |
| 2021 | 8.04 | -17.9% |
| 2022 | 9.48 | +17.9% |
| 2023 | 12.62 | +33.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.32 | 1.76 | 7.09 | 8 |
| 2020s | 9.98 | 8.04 | 12.62 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Timor-Leste
More economy & growth data for Timor-Leste
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), per unit of GDP -0.0186 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Special drawing rights per domestic currency (End-of-period (EoP)) 0.7302 (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current LCU), per capita -24.84 current LCU per person (2024)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current LCU), per unit of GDP -0.0186 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current LCU), annual growth rate -81.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), per capita -24.84 current US$ per person (2024)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current LCU), annual 22.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- GNI (current LCU), per capita 1,428 current LCU per person (2025)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$), annual 22.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Domestic currency per Special drawing rights (End-of-period (EoP)) 1.37 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt as a share of gni in Timor-Leste?
- External debt as a share of gni in Timor-Leste was 12.62 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external debt as a share of gni recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The highest recorded value was 12.62 in 2023.
- What is the lowest external debt as a share of gni recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.76 in 2012.
- How does Timor-Leste rank for external debt as a share of gni?
- Timor-Leste ranks 113th out of 118 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external debt as a share of gni rising or falling in Timor-Leste?
- Over the last ten years it is up 484.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Timor-Leste data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of External debt as a share of gni. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).