External debt stocks in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: External debt stocks was 19.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
19.9%
Change on year
down 14.8%
World rank
107th
of 122 countries
All-time high
24.8%
in 2021
All-time low
12.3%
in 2014
Years of data
18
2006–2023

External debt stocks in Afghanistan, 2006–2023

05101520252006201420232006: 13.8 % of GNI2007: 20.5 % of GNI2008: 21.2 % of GNI2009: 20 % of GNI2010: 15.3 % of GNI2011: 14 % of GNI2012: 12.9 % of GNI2013: 12.8 % of GNI2014: 12.3 % of GNI2015: 13.5 % of GNI2016: 14.1 % of GNI2017: 14.5 % of GNI2018: 14.6 % of GNI2019: 13.9 % of GNI2020: 15.1 % of GNI2021: 24.8 % of GNI2022: 23.3 % of GNI2023: 19.9 % of GNI

Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 19.9% for external debt stocks in 2023.

The figure is down 14.8% on the previous year and up 55.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Afghanistan peaked at 24.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 2014.

That places Afghanistan 107th out of 122 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.

External debt stocks in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for External debt stocks (% of GNI) in Afghanistan, 2006 to 2023.
Year % of GNI Change
2006 13.8%
2007 20.5% +48.5%
2008 21.2% +3.6%
2009 20.0% -5.5%
2010 15.3% -23.5%
2011 14.0% -8.8%
2012 12.9% -7.5%
2013 12.8% -1.0%
2014 12.3% -3.9%
2015 13.5% +9.6%
2016 14.1% +4.9%
2017 14.5% +2.6%
2018 14.6% +0.9%
2019 13.9% -4.7%
2020 15.1% +8.4%
2021 24.8% +63.9%
2022 23.3% -5.8%
2023 19.9% -14.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 18.9% 13.8% 21.2% 4
2010s 13.8% 12.3% 15.3% 10
2020s 20.8% 15.1% 24.8% 4

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 104 Guinea 23.2% compare
  2. 105 Guyana 22.6% compare
  3. 106 Bangladesh 22.3% compare
  4. 108 India 18.6% compare
  5. 109 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 18.3% compare
  6. 110 Azerbaijan 17.0% compare

See the full ranking of 134 places →

More economy & growth data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is external debt stocks in Afghanistan?
External debt stocks in Afghanistan was 19.9% in 2023, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 24.8% in 2021.
What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 2014.
How does Afghanistan rank for external debt stocks?
Afghanistan ranks 107th out of 122 countries with data for 2023.
Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 55.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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External debt stocks in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/external-debt-stocks-percent-of-gni/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
External debt stocks (% of GNI)
Unit
% of GNI
Source
International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
134 places, 6,178 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

Total external debt stocks to gross national income. 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. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.