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Short-term debt in Latin America & Caribbean

Latin America & Caribbean: Short-term debt was 15.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
15.4%
Change on year
down 5.2%
Rank
25th
of 32 groups
All-time high
64.4%
in 1993
All-time low
12.7%
in 2008
Years of data
43
1979–2024

Short-term debt in Latin America & Caribbean, 1979–2024

2040601979200120241979: 47.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1983: 51.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1984: 39.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1985: 34.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1986: 35.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1987: 37 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1988: 34.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1989: 41.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1990: 51.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1991: 58.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1992: 57.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1993: 64.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1994: 59 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1995: 56.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1996: 49.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1997: 46.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1998: 37.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1999: 33.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2000: 26.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2001: 22.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2002: 22.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2003: 23.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2004: 20.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2005: 19.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2006: 15.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2007: 15.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2008: 12.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2009: 15.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2010: 17.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2011: 14.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2012: 16 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2013: 18.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2014: 20 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2015: 22.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2016: 19.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2017: 18 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2018: 20.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2019: 21.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2020: 20.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2021: 17 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2022: 14.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2023: 16.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2024: 15.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income

Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.

Analysis

The most recent figure for short-term debt in Latin America & Caribbean is 15.4%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 5.2% on the previous year and down 23.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, short-term debt in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 64.4% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 2008.

That places Latin America & Caribbean 25th out of 32 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Short-term debt in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year

Year % of exports of goods, services and primary income Change
1979 47.8% —
1983 51.2% +7.0%
1984 39.7% -22.5%
1985 34.2% -13.9%
1986 35.2% +3.0%
1987 37.0% +5.3%
1988 34.3% -7.3%
1989 41.9% +21.9%
1990 51.3% +22.6%
1991 58.9% +14.7%
1992 57.7% -2.0%
1993 64.4% +11.6%
1994 59.0% -8.5%
1995 56.1% -4.8%
1996 49.2% -12.3%
1997 46.9% -4.7%
1998 37.4% -20.2%
1999 33.1% -11.5%
2000 26.4% -20.1%
2001 22.9% -13.5%
2002 22.7% -0.7%
2003 23.5% +3.6%
2004 20.6% -12.3%
2005 19.3% -6.7%
2006 15.3% -20.5%
2007 15.6% +2.0%
2008 12.7% -18.9%
2009 15.6% +23.3%
2010 17.9% +14.4%
2011 14.6% -18.5%
2012 16.0% +10.1%
2013 18.5% +15.5%
2014 20.0% +8.1%
2015 22.8% +13.7%
2016 19.4% -14.7%
2017 18.0% -7.2%
2018 20.7% +14.8%
2019 21.3% +3.0%
2020 20.1% -5.5%
2021 17.0% -15.5%
2022 14.6% -14.4%
2023 16.3% +11.7%
2024 15.4% -5.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 47.8% 47.8% 47.8% 1
1980s 39.1% 34.2% 51.2% 7
1990s 51.4% 33.1% 64.4% 10
2000s 19.5% 12.7% 26.4% 10
2010s 18.9% 14.6% 22.8% 10
2020s 16.7% 14.6% 20.1% 5

Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean

  1. 22 North Macedonia 29.7% compare
  2. 23 Sri Lanka 28.7% compare
  3. 24 Ukraine 27.7% compare
  4. 25 Benin 26.7% compare
  5. 26 Georgia 26.1% compare
  6. 27 Yemen 25.4% compare
  7. 28 Afghanistan 25.3% compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More economy & growth data for Latin America & Caribbean

All data for Latin America & Caribbean →

Frequently asked questions

What is short-term debt in Latin America & Caribbean?
Short-term debt in Latin America & Caribbean was 15.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
The highest recorded value was 64.4% in 1993.
What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2008.
How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for short-term debt?
Latin America & Caribbean ranks 25th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
Is short-term debt rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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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Short-term debt in Latin America & Caribbean. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/short-term-debt-percent-of-exports-of-goods-services-and-primary-income/latin-america-and-caribbean/

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About this data

Indicator
Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
Unit
% of exports of goods, services and primary income
Source
International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
151 places, 5,838 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

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.