External debt stocks in Jamaica
Jamaica: External debt stocks was 76.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
External debt stocks in Jamaica, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks in Jamaica stood at 76.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Jamaica peaked at 228.2% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 46.5%, in 1998.
Jamaica ranks 22nd of 122 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
External debt stocks in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 73.1% | — |
| 1971 | 70.1% | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 57.0% | -18.7% |
| 1973 | 65.0% | +14.0% |
| 1974 | 59.7% | -8.2% |
| 1975 | 56.6% | -5.1% |
| 1976 | 50.7% | -10.3% |
| 1977 | 53.8% | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 57.7% | +7.2% |
| 1979 | 76.4% | +32.5% |
| 1980 | 78.4% | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 82.9% | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 92.4% | +11.4% |
| 1983 | 100.8% | +9.1% |
| 1984 | 172.6% | +71.2% |
| 1985 | 228.2% | +32.2% |
| 1986 | 172.5% | -24.4% |
| 1987 | 162.1% | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 132.6% | -18.2% |
| 1989 | 114.9% | -13.3% |
| 1990 | 115.0% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 125.8% | +9.4% |
| 1992 | 142.9% | +13.6% |
| 1993 | 84.3% | -41.0% |
| 1994 | 91.1% | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 74.4% | -18.3% |
| 1996 | 57.1% | -23.2% |
| 1997 | 47.1% | -17.6% |
| 1998 | 46.5% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 47.1% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 55.7% | +18.3% |
| 2001 | 62.6% | +12.3% |
| 2002 | 61.5% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 64.6% | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 67.9% | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 62.4% | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 71.5% | +14.6% |
| 2007 | 86.7% | +21.3% |
| 2008 | 79.4% | -8.4% |
| 2009 | 97.1% | +22.3% |
| 2010 | 111.5% | +14.8% |
| 2011 | 102.6% | -8.0% |
| 2012 | 97.5% | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 92.5% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 103.5% | +11.9% |
| 2015 | 102.2% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 103.9% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 101.4% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 115.8% | +14.3% |
| 2019 | 94.0% | -18.9% |
| 2020 | 108.5% | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 112.6% | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 94.4% | -16.2% |
| 2023 | 80.5% | -14.8% |
| 2024 | 76.1% | -5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 62.0% | 50.7% | 76.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 133.7% | 78.4% | 228.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 83.1% | 46.5% | 142.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.9% | 55.7% | 97.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.5% | 92.5% | 115.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 94.4% | 76.1% | 112.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More economy & growth data for Jamaica
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.76 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 15.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 13.91 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 111,319 current LCU per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.0497 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 397.73 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU) 2.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU), per 5.81 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Jamaica?
- External debt stocks in Jamaica was 76.1% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 228.2% in 1985.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.5% in 1998.
- How does Jamaica rank for external debt stocks?
- Jamaica ranks 22nd out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.
Download this data
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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.