External debt stocks in Vanuatu

Vanuatu: External debt stocks was 39.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
39.2%
Change on year
up 6.6%
World rank
71st
of 121 countries
All-time high
64.0%
in 2002
All-time low
3.1%
in 1981
Years of data
44
1981–2024

External debt stocks in Vanuatu, 1981–2024

02040601981200220241981: 3.1 % of GNI1982: 4.4 % of GNI1983: 10.6 % of GNI1984: 10.3 % of GNI1985: 13.3 % of GNI1986: 15.4 % of GNI1987: 19.9 % of GNI1988: 19 % of GNI1989: 20.4 % of GNI1990: 22.8 % of GNI1991: 19.7 % of GNI1992: 20.2 % of GNI1993: 23.4 % of GNI1994: 23.2 % of GNI1995: 23 % of GNI1996: 20.8 % of GNI1997: 20.1 % of GNI1998: 25.3 % of GNI1999: 33.5 % of GNI2000: 43.3 % of GNI2001: 48.3 % of GNI2002: 64 % of GNI2003: 53.7 % of GNI2004: 44.5 % of GNI2005: 27.2 % of GNI2006: 26.4 % of GNI2007: 26 % of GNI2008: 25.3 % of GNI2009: 26.9 % of GNI2010: 27.4 % of GNI2011: 23.8 % of GNI2012: 25.9 % of GNI2013: 20.9 % of GNI2014: 25.9 % of GNI2015: 33.2 % of GNI2016: 35.7 % of GNI2017: 45.5 % of GNI2018: 42.7 % of GNI2019: 39.7 % of GNI2020: 43.4 % of GNI2021: 42.6 % of GNI2022: 39 % of GNI2023: 36.7 % of GNI2024: 39.2 % of GNI

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

Analysis

Vanuatu recorded 39.2% for external debt stocks in 2024.

The figure is up 6.6% on the previous year and up 51.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Vanuatu peaked at 64.0% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 1981.

That places Vanuatu 71st out of 121 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.

External debt stocks in Vanuatu, year by year

Annual values for External debt stocks (% of GNI) in Vanuatu, 1981 to 2024.
Year % of GNI Change
1981 3.1%
1982 4.4% +41.1%
1983 10.6% +142.8%
1984 10.3% -2.6%
1985 13.3% +29.0%
1986 15.4% +15.7%
1987 19.9% +29.2%
1988 19.0% -4.5%
1989 20.4% +7.5%
1990 22.8% +11.6%
1991 19.7% -13.7%
1992 20.2% +2.7%
1993 23.4% +15.6%
1994 23.2% -0.6%
1995 23.0% -0.9%
1996 20.8% -9.4%
1997 20.1% -3.6%
1998 25.3% +25.7%
1999 33.5% +32.5%
2000 43.3% +29.5%
2001 48.3% +11.5%
2002 64.0% +32.4%
2003 53.7% -16.0%
2004 44.5% -17.2%
2005 27.2% -38.8%
2006 26.4% -3.0%
2007 26.0% -1.4%
2008 25.3% -2.8%
2009 26.9% +6.2%
2010 27.4% +1.8%
2011 23.8% -13.2%
2012 25.9% +8.8%
2013 20.9% -19.1%
2014 25.9% +23.7%
2015 33.2% +28.5%
2016 35.7% +7.4%
2017 45.5% +27.4%
2018 42.7% -6.1%
2019 39.7% -7.1%
2020 43.4% +9.4%
2021 42.6% -1.9%
2022 39.0% -8.4%
2023 36.7% -5.8%
2024 39.2% +6.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 12.9% 3.1% 20.4% 9
1990s 23.2% 19.7% 33.5% 10
2000s 38.6% 25.3% 64.0% 10
2010s 32.1% 20.9% 45.5% 10
2020s 40.2% 36.7% 43.4% 5

Countries ranked near Vanuatu

  1. 68 Turkey 39.4% compare
  2. 69 Uganda 39.2% compare
  3. 70 Madagascar 39.2% compare
  4. 72 Argentina 39.1% compare
  5. 73 Kosovo 38.6% compare
  6. 74 Samoa 37.6% compare

See the full ranking of 133 places →

More economy & growth data for Vanuatu

All data for Vanuatu →

Frequently asked questions

What is external debt stocks in Vanuatu?
External debt stocks in Vanuatu was 39.2% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Vanuatu?
The highest recorded value was 64.0% in 2002.
What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Vanuatu?
The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 1981.
How does Vanuatu rank for external debt stocks?
Vanuatu ranks 71st out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Vanuatu?
Over the last ten years it is up 51.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/external-debt-stocks-percent-of-gni/vanuatu/

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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
133 places, 6,161 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.