External debt stocks in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao People's Democratic Republic: External debt stocks was 115.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
115.4%
Change on year
down 6.1%
World rank
7th
of 122 countries
All-time high
221.7%
in 1988
All-time low
26.3%
in 1985
Years of data
41
1984–2024

External debt stocks in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1984–2024

501001502001984200420241984: 29.6 % of GNI1985: 26.3 % of GNI1986: 49 % of GNI1987: 107.1 % of GNI1988: 221.7 % of GNI1989: 206.4 % of GNI1990: 204.3 % of GNI1991: 182.2 % of GNI1992: 170 % of GNI1993: 149.6 % of GNI1994: 134.4 % of GNI1995: 122.8 % of GNI1996: 121 % of GNI1997: 136.5 % of GNI1998: 197.8 % of GNI1999: 178.8 % of GNI2000: 152.4 % of GNI2001: 149.2 % of GNI2002: 183.2 % of GNI2003: 127.8 % of GNI2004: 122.8 % of GNI2005: 116.2 % of GNI2006: 110.8 % of GNI2007: 117.6 % of GNI2008: 105 % of GNI2009: 109 % of GNI2010: 95 % of GNI2011: 84.3 % of GNI2012: 75.3 % of GNI2013: 70.4 % of GNI2014: 74.3 % of GNI2015: 83.3 % of GNI2016: 88.8 % of GNI2017: 93.2 % of GNI2018: 91.9 % of GNI2019: 107.8 % of GNI2020: 114.5 % of GNI2021: 105.4 % of GNI2022: 129.2 % of GNI2023: 123 % of GNI2024: 115.4 % of GNI

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

Analysis

Lao People's Democratic Republic recorded 115.4% for external debt stocks in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.1% on the previous year and up 55.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Lao People's Democratic Republic peaked at 221.7% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 26.3%, in 1985.

That places Lao People's Democratic Republic 7th out of 122 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.

External debt stocks in Lao People's Democratic Republic, year by year

Annual values for External debt stocks (% of GNI) in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1984 to 2024.
Year % of GNI Change
1984 29.6%
1985 26.3% -11.4%
1986 49.0% +86.7%
1987 107.1% +118.4%
1988 221.7% +107.1%
1989 206.4% -6.9%
1990 204.3% -1.0%
1991 182.2% -10.8%
1992 170.0% -6.7%
1993 149.6% -12.0%
1994 134.4% -10.2%
1995 122.8% -8.6%
1996 121.0% -1.5%
1997 136.5% +12.8%
1998 197.8% +45.0%
1999 178.8% -9.6%
2000 152.4% -14.8%
2001 149.2% -2.1%
2002 183.2% +22.8%
2003 127.8% -30.2%
2004 122.8% -3.9%
2005 116.2% -5.3%
2006 110.8% -4.7%
2007 117.6% +6.2%
2008 105.0% -10.8%
2009 109.0% +3.8%
2010 95.0% -12.8%
2011 84.3% -11.3%
2012 75.3% -10.7%
2013 70.4% -6.5%
2014 74.3% +5.6%
2015 83.3% +12.2%
2016 88.8% +6.6%
2017 93.2% +4.9%
2018 91.9% -1.4%
2019 107.8% +17.3%
2020 114.5% +6.1%
2021 105.4% -7.9%
2022 129.2% +22.6%
2023 123.0% -4.9%
2024 115.4% -6.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 106.7% 26.3% 221.7% 6
1990s 159.7% 121.0% 204.3% 10
2000s 129.4% 105.0% 183.2% 10
2010s 86.4% 70.4% 107.8% 10
2020s 117.5% 105.4% 129.2% 5

Countries ranked near Lao People's Democratic Republic

  1. 4 Senegal 150.7% compare
  2. 5 Suriname 129.1% compare
  3. 6 Mauritius 123.2% compare
  4. 8 Bhutan 114.5% compare
  5. 9 Zambia 114.2% compare
  6. 10 Montenegro 108.6% compare

See the full ranking of 134 places →

More economy & growth data for Lao People's Democratic Republic

All data for Lao People's Democratic Republic →

Frequently asked questions

What is external debt stocks in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
External debt stocks in Lao People's Democratic Republic was 115.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
The highest recorded value was 221.7% in 1988.
What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
The lowest recorded value was 26.3% in 1985.
How does Lao People's Democratic Republic rank for external debt stocks?
Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 7th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
Over the last ten years it is up 55.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Lao People's Democratic Republic 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 Lao People's Democratic Republic. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/external-debt-stocks-percent-of-gni/lao-pdr/

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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.