External debt stocks, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): External debt stocks, total was 899.59 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) recorded 899.59 billion DOD, current US$ for external debt stocks, total in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 75.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 899.59 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.91 billion DOD, current US$, in 1970.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6.91 billion DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 8.71 billion DOD, current US$ | +26.1% |
| 1972 | 10.03 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.1% |
| 1973 | 13.10 billion DOD, current US$ | +30.6% |
| 1974 | 16.36 billion DOD, current US$ | +24.9% |
| 1975 | 19.56 billion DOD, current US$ | +19.6% |
| 1976 | 22.50 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1977 | 31.45 billion DOD, current US$ | +39.8% |
| 1978 | 40.99 billion DOD, current US$ | +30.3% |
| 1979 | 48.51 billion DOD, current US$ | +18.3% |
| 1980 | 60.53 billion DOD, current US$ | +24.8% |
| 1981 | 69.15 billion DOD, current US$ | +14.2% |
| 1982 | 76.48 billion DOD, current US$ | +10.6% |
| 1983 | 86.43 billion DOD, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1984 | 90.61 billion DOD, current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 106.71 billion DOD, current US$ | +17.8% |
| 1986 | 120.52 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.9% |
| 1987 | 147.36 billion DOD, current US$ | +22.3% |
| 1988 | 149.96 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 156.51 billion DOD, current US$ | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 176.26 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1991 | 182.84 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 182.44 billion DOD, current US$ | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 194.82 billion DOD, current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 221.77 billion DOD, current US$ | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 236.37 billion DOD, current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 231.93 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 226.56 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 230.31 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 218.45 billion DOD, current US$ | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 216.33 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 209.42 billion DOD, current US$ | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 230.82 billion DOD, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 253.78 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 268.12 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 248.58 billion DOD, current US$ | -7.3% |
| 2006 | 213.58 billion DOD, current US$ | -14.1% |
| 2007 | 247.23 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 255.87 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 292.06 billion DOD, current US$ | +14.1% |
| 2010 | 340.89 billion DOD, current US$ | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 379.20 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2012 | 429.33 billion DOD, current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2013 | 471.78 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.9% |
| 2014 | 511.78 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 515.95 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 561.50 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 656.15 billion DOD, current US$ | +16.9% |
| 2018 | 700.41 billion DOD, current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 751.11 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 792.50 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 834.90 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2022 | 848.92 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 869.68 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 899.59 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.81 billion DOD, current US$ | 6.91 billion DOD, current US$ | 48.51 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 106.43 billion DOD, current US$ | 60.53 billion DOD, current US$ | 156.51 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 210.17 billion DOD, current US$ | 176.26 billion DOD, current US$ | 236.37 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 243.58 billion DOD, current US$ | 209.42 billion DOD, current US$ | 292.06 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 531.81 billion DOD, current US$ | 340.89 billion DOD, current US$ | 751.11 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 849.12 billion DOD, current US$ | 792.50 billion DOD, current US$ | 899.59 billion DOD, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 5 Türkiye 514.99 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 6 Indonesia 421.06 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 7 Russian Federation 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
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Manufacturing, value added 9.6% (2025)
- Trade 55.5% (2024)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.9097 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 379.82 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 4.7% (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 1,521 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 212.59 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 202.64 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP (current US$), annual growth rate 11.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 25.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- External debt stocks, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 899.59 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 899.59 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.91 billion DOD, current US$ in 1970.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for external debt stocks, total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 8th out of 12 groups with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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.