External debt stocks in Uganda
Uganda: External debt stocks was 39.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Uganda, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
Uganda recorded 39.2% for external debt stocks in 2024.
The figure is down 8.1% on the previous year and up 44.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Uganda peaked at 106.5% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 1975.
That places Uganda 69th out of 121 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12.2% | — |
| 1971 | 12.4% | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 12.1% | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 10.4% | -13.7% |
| 1974 | 9.7% | -6.7% |
| 1975 | 8.9% | -8.5% |
| 1976 | 10.0% | +12.5% |
| 1977 | 10.3% | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 17.7% | +72.1% |
| 1979 | 27.6% | +56.3% |
| 1980 | 55.8% | +101.9% |
| 1981 | 53.4% | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 40.6% | -23.8% |
| 1983 | 46.0% | +13.1% |
| 1984 | 30.1% | -34.5% |
| 1985 | 35.7% | +18.7% |
| 1986 | 36.7% | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 31.1% | -15.2% |
| 1988 | 30.1% | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 42.1% | +40.1% |
| 1990 | 61.6% | +46.2% |
| 1991 | 85.9% | +39.4% |
| 1992 | 106.5% | +24.0% |
| 1993 | 96.3% | -9.6% |
| 1994 | 86.5% | -10.2% |
| 1995 | 63.3% | -26.7% |
| 1996 | 61.8% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 62.5% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 59.9% | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 59.1% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 58.1% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 66.6% | +14.6% |
| 2002 | 66.5% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 70.8% | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 62.0% | -12.4% |
| 2005 | 49.7% | -19.8% |
| 2006 | 13.4% | -73.1% |
| 2007 | 14.2% | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | +14.2% |
| 2009 | 11.2% | -30.9% |
| 2010 | 11.3% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 11.9% | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 14.1% | +18.8% |
| 2013 | 30.3% | +114.3% |
| 2014 | 27.1% | -10.3% |
| 2015 | 30.1% | +11.0% |
| 2016 | 35.2% | +16.7% |
| 2017 | 38.9% | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 38.5% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 40.7% | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 48.1% | +18.2% |
| 2021 | 52.1% | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 47.2% | -9.5% |
| 2023 | 42.7% | -9.6% |
| 2024 | 39.2% | -8.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.1% | 8.9% | 27.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.2% | 30.1% | 55.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 74.4% | 59.1% | 106.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.9% | 11.2% | 70.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.8% | 11.3% | 40.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.9% | 39.2% | 52.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More economy & growth data for Uganda
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.99 Percent per annum (2029)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 6.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.2384 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 287.54 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 6.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 686.49 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 828,111 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 12.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4209 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Uganda?
- External debt stocks in Uganda was 39.2% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 106.5% in 1992.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 1975.
- How does Uganda rank for external debt stocks?
- Uganda ranks 69th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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.