External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) in South Asia
South Asia: External debt stocks, total was 896.01 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks, total in South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks, total in South Asia stood at 896.01 billion DOD, current US$. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.4% on the previous year and up 65.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, total in South Asia peaked at 896.01 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.86 billion DOD, current US$, in 1970.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, total in South Asia, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.86 billion DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 9.86 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 1972 | 10.74 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1973 | 12.12 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1974 | 14.77 billion DOD, current US$ | +21.9% |
| 1975 | 16.40 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1976 | 17.57 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 1977 | 19.00 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.1% |
| 1978 | 20.84 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1979 | 22.88 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 26.60 billion DOD, current US$ | +16.3% |
| 1981 | 29.25 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1982 | 34.93 billion DOD, current US$ | +19.4% |
| 1983 | 39.42 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1984 | 41.86 billion DOD, current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 49.69 billion DOD, current US$ | +18.7% |
| 1986 | 57.74 billion DOD, current US$ | +16.2% |
| 1987 | 69.02 billion DOD, current US$ | +19.5% |
| 1988 | 76.08 billion DOD, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 1989 | 91.10 billion DOD, current US$ | +19.8% |
| 1990 | 103.42 billion DOD, current US$ | +13.5% |
| 1991 | 106.36 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 109.66 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 114.57 billion DOD, current US$ | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 123.90 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 120.61 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 120.11 billion DOD, current US$ | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 119.13 billion DOD, current US$ | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 125.93 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 129.61 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 129.27 billion DOD, current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 126.68 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 136.21 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 152.05 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 159.27 billion DOD, current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 155.21 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 196.22 billion DOD, current US$ | +26.4% |
| 2007 | 244.93 billion DOD, current US$ | +24.8% |
| 2008 | 272.32 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2009 | 307.14 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 2010 | 344.32 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 393.02 billion DOD, current US$ | +14.1% |
| 2012 | 463.67 billion DOD, current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2013 | 505.68 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 542.07 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 568.79 billion DOD, current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 551.60 billion DOD, current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 622.55 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.9% |
| 2018 | 641.71 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 691.60 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 710.21 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 778.40 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2022 | 787.51 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 826.72 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 896.01 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.30 billion DOD, current US$ | 8.86 billion DOD, current US$ | 22.88 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.57 billion DOD, current US$ | 26.60 billion DOD, current US$ | 91.10 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 117.33 billion DOD, current US$ | 103.42 billion DOD, current US$ | 129.61 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 187.93 billion DOD, current US$ | 126.68 billion DOD, current US$ | 307.14 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 532.50 billion DOD, current US$ | 344.32 billion DOD, current US$ | 691.60 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 799.77 billion DOD, current US$ | 710.21 billion DOD, current US$ | 896.01 billion DOD, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 6 Indonesia 421.06 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 7 Russia 376.12 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 8 Argentina 242.36 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 9 Colombia 201.76 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 10 Ukraine 193.49 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 11 Thailand 191.83 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 12 South Africa 175.90 billion DOD, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for South Asia
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 6.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.0821 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 221.99 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5874 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5559 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 5.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,504 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 275.19 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks, total in South Asia?
- External debt stocks, total in South Asia was 896.01 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, total recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 896.01 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, total recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.86 billion DOD, current US$ in 1970.
- How does South Asia rank for external debt stocks, total?
- South Asia ranks 9th out of 12 groups with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks, total rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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. Data are in current U.S. dollars.