External debt stocks in Ghana
Ghana: External debt stocks was 46.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
External debt stocks in Ghana, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt stocks in Ghana is 46.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 15.2% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Ghana peaked at 139.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 22.9%, in 1971.
Ghana ranks 52nd of 122 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
External debt stocks in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 26.4% | — |
| 1971 | 22.9% | -13.3% |
| 1972 | 28.9% | +26.2% |
| 1973 | 25.3% | -12.2% |
| 1974 | 25.4% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 25.8% | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 25.9% | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 33.6% | +29.6% |
| 1978 | 35.0% | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 32.0% | -8.6% |
| 1980 | 31.6% | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 36.6% | +15.7% |
| 1982 | 36.9% | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 41.4% | +12.4% |
| 1984 | 45.0% | +8.5% |
| 1985 | 51.0% | +13.4% |
| 1986 | 49.3% | -3.3% |
| 1987 | 67.1% | +36.1% |
| 1988 | 61.8% | -7.9% |
| 1989 | 66.3% | +7.2% |
| 1990 | 67.2% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 67.6% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 71.4% | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 83.4% | +16.8% |
| 1994 | 102.5% | +22.9% |
| 1995 | 93.8% | -8.5% |
| 1996 | 94.9% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 93.9% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 95.1% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 94.0% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 139.4% | +48.3% |
| 2001 | 131.8% | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 126.6% | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 111.2% | -12.2% |
| 2004 | 83.4% | -25.0% |
| 2005 | 76.2% | -8.6% |
| 2006 | 29.8% | -60.9% |
| 2007 | 33.7% | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 35.2% | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 49.9% | +41.8% |
| 2010 | 56.8% | +13.7% |
| 2011 | 55.9% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 59.1% | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 46.7% | -21.0% |
| 2014 | 55.0% | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 65.3% | +18.6% |
| 2016 | 64.6% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 58.7% | -9.1% |
| 2018 | 54.6% | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 49.9% | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 57.0% | +14.2% |
| 2021 | 60.4% | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 60.0% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 55.3% | -7.9% |
| 2024 | 46.9% | -15.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 28.1% | 22.9% | 35.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 48.7% | 31.6% | 67.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 86.4% | 67.2% | 102.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.7% | 29.8% | 139.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.7% | 46.7% | 65.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.9% | 46.9% | 60.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More economy & growth data for Ghana
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.15 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1011 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 329.19 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1.27 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 4,134 current LCU per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.0752 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 244.78 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 649.98 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 37.37 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Ghana?
- External debt stocks in Ghana was 46.9% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 139.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.9% in 1971.
- How does Ghana rank for external debt stocks?
- Ghana ranks 52nd out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana 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.