Short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries): Short-term debt was 15.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 1979–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
In 2024, short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 15.4%.
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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 64.4% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 2008.
That places Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
More economy & growth data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,700 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 2.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.136 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 1,472 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7,460 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5831 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.157 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6893 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) was 15.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 64.4% in 1993.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2008.
- How does Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for short-term debt?
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 25th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.