External debt stocks in Nepal
Nepal: External debt stocks was 23.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Nepal, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt stocks in Nepal is 23.3%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and up 34.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Nepal peaked at 60.0% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1970.
That places Nepal 102nd 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.4% | — |
| 1971 | 1.0% | +136.3% |
| 1972 | 1.2% | +15.8% |
| 1973 | 2.1% | +72.1% |
| 1974 | 2.3% | +9.4% |
| 1975 | 2.2% | -4.6% |
| 1976 | 3.4% | +57.5% |
| 1977 | 7.2% | +113.0% |
| 1978 | 7.0% | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 7.9% | +12.6% |
| 1980 | 10.4% | +32.7% |
| 1981 | 12.2% | +16.7% |
| 1982 | 14.7% | +20.3% |
| 1983 | 18.4% | +25.5% |
| 1984 | 17.9% | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 22.5% | +25.5% |
| 1986 | 26.1% | +15.9% |
| 1987 | 33.3% | +27.8% |
| 1988 | 33.4% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 38.4% | +14.8% |
| 1990 | 44.7% | +16.4% |
| 1991 | 44.9% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 52.7% | +17.4% |
| 1993 | 54.6% | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 56.9% | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 54.7% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 52.9% | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 49.0% | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 54.9% | +12.0% |
| 1999 | 60.0% | +9.4% |
| 2000 | 52.1% | -13.1% |
| 2001 | 45.5% | -12.8% |
| 2002 | 49.6% | +9.1% |
| 2003 | 50.8% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 46.4% | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 39.1% | -15.7% |
| 2006 | 37.3% | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 34.6% | -7.2% |
| 2008 | 29.2% | -15.8% |
| 2009 | 29.0% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 23.5% | -19.1% |
| 2011 | 17.7% | -24.9% |
| 2012 | 17.4% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 18.0% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 17.3% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 16.8% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 17.3% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 17.0% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 18.9% | +14.1% |
| 2020 | 23.4% | +23.9% |
| 2021 | 23.8% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 22.2% | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 24.0% | +8.4% |
| 2024 | 23.3% | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.5% | 0.4% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.7% | 10.4% | 38.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 52.5% | 44.7% | 60.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.4% | 29.0% | 52.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.0% | 16.5% | 23.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.3% | 22.2% | 24.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More economy & growth data for Nepal
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.28 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 4.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.5437 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 835.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 6.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 74.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per capita 113,807 current LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.4062 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Nepal?
- External debt stocks in Nepal was 23.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 60.0% in 1999.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1970.
- How does Nepal rank for external debt stocks?
- Nepal ranks 102nd out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.