External debt stocks in Pakistan
Pakistan: External debt stocks was 35.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
External debt stocks in Pakistan, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks in Pakistan stood at 35.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.7% on the previous year and up 48.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Pakistan peaked at 72.4% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 23.3%, in 2015.
That places Pakistan 80th out of 122 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
External debt stocks in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 34.3% | — |
| 1971 | 35.8% | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 43.9% | +22.6% |
| 1973 | 72.4% | +65.1% |
| 1974 | 58.0% | -19.9% |
| 1975 | 51.7% | -11.0% |
| 1976 | 52.2% | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 50.6% | -3.1% |
| 1978 | 47.2% | -6.7% |
| 1979 | 45.8% | -3.0% |
| 1980 | 42.5% | -7.3% |
| 1981 | 38.0% | -10.6% |
| 1982 | 38.5% | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 42.5% | +10.5% |
| 1984 | 39.8% | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 44.0% | +10.4% |
| 1986 | 47.8% | +8.9% |
| 1987 | 51.4% | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 45.3% | -11.9% |
| 1989 | 46.7% | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 52.9% | +13.3% |
| 1991 | 52.6% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 52.3% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 48.8% | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 54.0% | +10.7% |
| 1995 | 51.4% | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 48.6% | -5.3% |
| 1997 | 49.9% | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 54.0% | +8.1% |
| 1999 | 55.9% | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 34.0% | -39.2% |
| 2001 | 34.1% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 35.9% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 33.6% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 28.4% | -15.5% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | -14.8% |
| 2006 | 23.7% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 23.6% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 25.3% | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 31.1% | +23.1% |
| 2010 | 32.8% | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | -12.9% |
| 2012 | 25.9% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 23.6% | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 24.0% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 23.3% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 24.4% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 27.9% | +14.3% |
| 2018 | 28.5% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 34.9% | +22.3% |
| 2020 | 40.0% | +14.5% |
| 2021 | 38.0% | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 34.5% | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 39.4% | +14.3% |
| 2024 | 35.6% | -9.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 49.2% | 34.3% | 72.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 43.7% | 38.0% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 52.0% | 48.6% | 55.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.4% | 23.6% | 35.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.4% | 23.3% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.5% | 34.5% | 40.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More economy & growth data for Pakistan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.11 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 11.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1318 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 210.32 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 9.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1721 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 274.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 8.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 48.08 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Pakistan?
- External debt stocks in Pakistan was 35.6% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 1973.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.3% in 2015.
- How does Pakistan rank for external debt stocks?
- Pakistan ranks 80th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.