Short-term debt in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Short-term debt was 12.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Least developed countries, 1974–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 12.1% for short-term debt in 2024.
That represents a change of down 21.5% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Least developed countries peaked at 79.9% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1974.
That places Least developed countries 29th 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 0.4% | — |
| 1975 | 0.4% | +6.1% |
| 1976 | 16.0% | +4141.8% |
| 1977 | 30.0% | +87.3% |
| 1978 | 47.5% | +58.1% |
| 1979 | 40.1% | -15.6% |
| 1980 | 40.5% | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 43.6% | +7.8% |
| 1982 | 54.4% | +24.6% |
| 1983 | 56.2% | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 64.1% | +14.0% |
| 1985 | 79.9% | +24.7% |
| 1986 | 44.5% | -44.3% |
| 1987 | 50.0% | +12.2% |
| 1988 | 50.2% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 55.1% | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 51.5% | -6.5% |
| 1991 | 58.6% | +13.8% |
| 1992 | 30.1% | -48.7% |
| 1993 | 60.1% | +99.5% |
| 1994 | 57.1% | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 49.5% | -13.2% |
| 1996 | 42.4% | -14.4% |
| 1997 | 40.3% | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 46.6% | +15.5% |
| 1999 | 40.2% | -13.7% |
| 2000 | 28.1% | -30.2% |
| 2001 | 27.0% | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 24.2% | -12.3% |
| 2004 | 25.3% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 19.2% | -24.1% |
| 2006 | 16.7% | -13.2% |
| 2007 | 14.9% | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 11.7% | -21.7% |
| 2009 | 14.0% | +19.9% |
| 2010 | 13.0% | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 9.8% | -24.7% |
| 2012 | 11.4% | +17.0% |
| 2013 | 12.8% | +11.7% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 16.0% | +29.9% |
| 2016 | 16.7% | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 16.5% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 14.3% | -13.1% |
| 2019 | 15.2% | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 21.6% | +42.3% |
| 2021 | 20.5% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 17.7% | -13.5% |
| 2023 | 15.4% | -12.7% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | -21.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Short-term debt in Least developed countries changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +4141.8% | 0.4% | 16.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.4% | 0.4% | 47.5% | 6 |
| 1980s | 53.8% | 40.5% | 79.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.6% | 30.1% | 60.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.9% | 11.7% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.8% | 9.8% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.5% | 12.1% | 21.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 26 Georgia 26.1% compare
- 27 Yemen 25.4% compare
- 28 Afghanistan 25.3% compare
- 29 Bangladesh 24.4% compare
- 30 Colombia 24.2% compare
- 31 Pakistan 23.3% compare
- 32 Bosnia and Herzegovina 22.9% compare
More economy & growth data for Least developed countries
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -71.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 4.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 977.33 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.7176 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 10.25 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 116.01 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.0852 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 10.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0062 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Least developed countries?
- Short-term debt in Least developed countries was 12.1% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 79.9% in 1985.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1974.
- How does Least developed countries rank for short-term debt?
- Least developed countries ranks 29th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed 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.
Download this data
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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.