Short-term debt in El Salvador
El Salvador: Short-term debt was 22.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in El Salvador, 1977–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
In 2024, short-term debt in El Salvador stood at 22.4%.
The figure is down 14.5% on the previous year and down 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in El Salvador peaked at 73.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 1985.
El Salvador ranks 33rd of 119 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Short-term debt in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 19.2% | — |
| 1978 | 34.3% | +78.8% |
| 1979 | 20.5% | -40.2% |
| 1980 | 17.3% | -15.6% |
| 1981 | 21.9% | +26.2% |
| 1982 | 23.7% | +8.7% |
| 1983 | 10.1% | -57.3% |
| 1984 | 11.7% | +15.8% |
| 1985 | 8.8% | -24.7% |
| 1986 | 12.1% | +36.5% |
| 1987 | 22.6% | +87.3% |
| 1988 | 25.4% | +12.1% |
| 1989 | 22.5% | -11.1% |
| 1990 | 21.3% | -5.7% |
| 1991 | 11.5% | -45.8% |
| 1992 | 10.6% | -8.2% |
| 1993 | 9.5% | -10.2% |
| 1994 | 14.1% | +48.6% |
| 1995 | 32.6% | +130.9% |
| 1996 | 35.4% | +8.6% |
| 1997 | 36.4% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 36.7% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 45.1% | +22.9% |
| 2000 | 62.1% | +37.5% |
| 2001 | 73.2% | +18.0% |
| 2002 | 43.4% | -40.7% |
| 2003 | 56.6% | +30.3% |
| 2004 | 59.8% | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 52.8% | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 32.2% | -39.0% |
| 2007 | 27.7% | -13.8% |
| 2008 | 30.9% | +11.4% |
| 2009 | 20.1% | -35.0% |
| 2010 | 16.6% | -17.3% |
| 2011 | 20.6% | +23.8% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | +19.8% |
| 2013 | 28.0% | +13.6% |
| 2014 | 30.0% | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 28.7% | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 36.2% | +26.2% |
| 2017 | 27.7% | -23.5% |
| 2018 | 26.6% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 26.9% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 29.8% | +10.6% |
| 2021 | 26.4% | -11.2% |
| 2022 | 22.6% | -14.6% |
| 2023 | 26.2% | +15.9% |
| 2024 | 22.4% | -14.5% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 22.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.7%, 1.3× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 22.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 14.1%, 1.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.7% | 19.2% | 34.3% | 3 |
| 1980s | 17.6% | 8.8% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.3% | 9.5% | 45.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.9% | 20.1% | 73.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.6% | 16.6% | 36.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.5% | 22.4% | 29.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More economy & growth data for El Salvador
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.92 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.3 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 318.29 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0087 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 50 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 763.72 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -27.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0208 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 119.98 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 30 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in El Salvador?
- Short-term debt in El Salvador was 22.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 73.2% in 2001.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 1985.
- How does El Salvador rank for short-term debt?
- El Salvador ranks 33rd out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Short-term external debt is defined as debt that has an original maturity of one year or less. Available data permit no distinction between public and private nonguaranteed short-term debt. Exports of goods, services and primary income is the sum of goods (merchandise) exports, exports of (nonfactor) services and income (factor) receipts.