External debt stocks in Bhutan
Bhutan: External debt stocks was 114.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Bhutan, 1981–2023
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
Bhutan recorded 114.5% for external debt stocks in 2023.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Bhutan peaked at 139.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1981.
Bhutan ranks 8th of 122 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.3% | — |
| 1982 | 1.1% | +253.0% |
| 1983 | 1.6% | +48.5% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | +36.8% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | +217.3% |
| 1986 | 13.5% | +96.5% |
| 1987 | 19.0% | +41.1% |
| 1988 | 27.3% | +43.2% |
| 1989 | 29.3% | +7.6% |
| 1990 | 31.0% | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 39.5% | +27.2% |
| 1992 | 42.1% | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 47.9% | +13.7% |
| 1994 | 43.8% | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 41.8% | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 42.1% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 37.3% | -11.5% |
| 1998 | 55.7% | +49.3% |
| 1999 | 58.6% | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 46.0% | -21.6% |
| 2001 | 55.0% | +19.6% |
| 2002 | 70.0% | +27.3% |
| 2003 | 77.4% | +10.5% |
| 2004 | 83.6% | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 77.4% | -7.5% |
| 2006 | 76.8% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 64.7% | -15.7% |
| 2008 | 54.0% | -16.5% |
| 2009 | 61.4% | +13.7% |
| 2010 | 57.7% | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 57.4% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 79.2% | +37.8% |
| 2013 | 89.4% | +13.0% |
| 2014 | 99.3% | +11.1% |
| 2015 | 103.2% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 110.0% | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 113.8% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 112.2% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 111.9% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 139.8% | +25.0% |
| 2021 | 125.1% | -10.5% |
| 2022 | 115.0% | -8.1% |
| 2023 | 114.5% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.2% | 0.3% | 29.3% | 9 |
| 1990s | 44.0% | 31.0% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.6% | 46.0% | 83.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 93.4% | 57.4% | 113.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 123.6% | 114.5% | 139.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More economy & growth data for Bhutan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.11 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0662 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 279.81 current US$ per person (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.54 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 23,412 current LCU per person (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.045 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 190.27 constant 2015 US$ per person (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 12,720 constant LCU per person (2024)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 11.98 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Bhutan?
- External debt stocks in Bhutan was 114.5% in 2023, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 139.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1981.
- How does Bhutan rank for external debt stocks?
- Bhutan ranks 8th out of 122 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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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About this data
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.