External debt stocks in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: External debt stocks was 82.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Nicaragua, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 82.8% for external debt stocks in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Nicaragua peaked at 1,233.1% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 33.9%, in 1970.
Nicaragua ranks 16th of 122 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 33.9% | — |
| 1971 | 38.7% | +14.1% |
| 1972 | 43.9% | +13.5% |
| 1973 | 50.0% | +14.0% |
| 1974 | 48.4% | -3.3% |
| 1975 | 59.5% | +23.0% |
| 1976 | 56.8% | -4.6% |
| 1977 | 65.0% | +14.4% |
| 1978 | 78.8% | +21.2% |
| 1979 | 113.3% | +43.7% |
| 1980 | 112.6% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 111.7% | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 132.3% | +18.5% |
| 1983 | 163.1% | +23.3% |
| 1984 | 167.4% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 233.8% | +39.7% |
| 1986 | 244.5% | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 211.2% | -13.6% |
| 1988 | 389.2% | +84.3% |
| 1989 | 1,233.1% | +216.8% |
| 1990 | 1,111.3% | -9.9% |
| 1991 | 960.4% | -13.6% |
| 1992 | 879.2% | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 880.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 366.1% | -58.4% |
| 1995 | 280.9% | -23.3% |
| 1996 | 155.0% | -44.8% |
| 1997 | 153.2% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 143.4% | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 137.6% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 139.0% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 125.0% | -10.1% |
| 2002 | 128.3% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 133.8% | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 91.0% | -32.0% |
| 2005 | 81.2% | -10.8% |
| 2006 | 64.0% | -21.2% |
| 2007 | 56.9% | -11.1% |
| 2008 | 57.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 73.6% | +29.1% |
| 2010 | 82.4% | +12.0% |
| 2011 | 83.5% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 90.5% | +8.4% |
| 2013 | 98.1% | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 95.9% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 93.8% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 96.6% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 97.5% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 105.2% | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 111.9% | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 116.0% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 110.1% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 104.8% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 90.4% | -13.8% |
| 2024 | 82.8% | -8.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 58.8% | 33.9% | 113.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 299.9% | 111.7% | 1,233.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 506.7% | 137.6% | 1,111.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 95.0% | 56.9% | 139.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 95.5% | 82.4% | 111.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 100.8% | 82.8% | 116.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More economy & growth data for Nicaragua
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 14.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 15.23 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 48,340 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.33 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,047 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 20.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2461 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Nicaragua?
- External debt stocks in Nicaragua was 82.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 1,233.1% in 1989.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.9% in 1970.
- How does Nicaragua rank for external debt stocks?
- Nicaragua ranks 16th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.