External debt stocks in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: External debt stocks was 18.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 18.3%.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 283.9% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 1970.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 108th out of 121 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.1% | — |
| 1971 | 7.4% | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 11.0% | +49.3% |
| 1973 | 13.3% | +21.2% |
| 1974 | 16.1% | +20.6% |
| 1975 | 20.0% | +24.6% |
| 1976 | 30.7% | +53.4% |
| 1977 | 30.4% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 29.4% | -3.3% |
| 1979 | 30.3% | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 33.8% | +11.6% |
| 1981 | 41.8% | +23.4% |
| 1982 | 38.4% | -8.0% |
| 1983 | 49.9% | +30.0% |
| 1984 | 69.2% | +38.7% |
| 1985 | 90.5% | +30.7% |
| 1986 | 90.0% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 124.7% | +38.5% |
| 1988 | 105.5% | -15.4% |
| 1989 | 110.4% | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 119.5% | +8.2% |
| 1991 | 140.7% | +17.7% |
| 1992 | 146.9% | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 111.9% | -23.9% |
| 1994 | 240.0% | +114.5% |
| 1995 | 271.2% | +13.0% |
| 1996 | 237.5% | -12.4% |
| 1997 | 216.8% | -8.7% |
| 1998 | 226.4% | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 283.9% | +25.4% |
| 2000 | 63.1% | -77.8% |
| 2001 | 164.4% | +160.5% |
| 2002 | 119.2% | -27.5% |
| 2003 | 131.3% | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 115.4% | -12.1% |
| 2005 | 93.3% | -19.2% |
| 2006 | 81.0% | -13.1% |
| 2007 | 77.4% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 66.6% | -13.9% |
| 2009 | 73.3% | +10.0% |
| 2010 | 27.5% | -62.5% |
| 2011 | 20.9% | -23.9% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 21.1% | +10.5% |
| 2014 | 17.2% | -18.5% |
| 2015 | 15.6% | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 14.4% | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 14.3% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 14.4% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 14.7% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 17.9% | +21.2% |
| 2021 | 19.7% | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 17.2% | -12.7% |
| 2023 | 18.5% | +7.8% |
| 2024 | 18.3% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.6% | 7.1% | 30.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 75.4% | 33.8% | 124.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 199.5% | 111.9% | 283.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 98.5% | 63.1% | 164.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.9% | 14.3% | 27.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.3% | 17.2% | 19.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 105 Bangladesh 22.3% compare
- 106 Afghanistan 19.9% compare
- 107 India 18.6% compare
- 109 Azerbaijan 17.0% compare
- 110 Russia 16.8% compare
- 111 Chad 16.4% compare
More economy & growth data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 7.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.3688 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 297.53 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 7.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 101.08 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 81,551 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 21.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4796 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 386.92 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 15.66 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- External debt stocks in Democratic Republic of Congo was 18.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 283.9% in 1999.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 1970.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for external debt stocks?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 108th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.