Short-term debt in Nepal
Nepal: Short-term debt was 9.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Nepal, 1977–2024
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 Nepal is 9.8%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 8.0% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Nepal peaked at 28.5% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1992.
That places Nepal 71st out of 119 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 14.2% | — |
| 1978 | 8.2% | -42.2% |
| 1979 | 5.1% | -37.9% |
| 1980 | 2.6% | -49.3% |
| 1981 | 7.0% | +171.9% |
| 1982 | 14.7% | +109.3% |
| 1983 | 28.5% | +94.3% |
| 1984 | 8.2% | -71.4% |
| 1985 | 7.1% | -12.7% |
| 1986 | 6.6% | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 5.4% | -18.0% |
| 1988 | 5.9% | +8.7% |
| 1989 | 5.5% | -6.7% |
| 1990 | 5.4% | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 4.7% | -13.6% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -82.8% |
| 1993 | 2.7% | +239.0% |
| 1994 | 6.4% | +133.8% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | -66.6% |
| 1996 | 2.2% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | +30.7% |
| 1999 | 3.2% | +13.6% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | -33.4% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | +109.4% |
| 2002 | 4.0% | -10.3% |
| 2003 | 4.9% | +21.6% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | -43.3% |
| 2005 | 3.3% | +19.0% |
| 2006 | 5.8% | +76.1% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | -43.1% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | -11.6% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -14.3% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | +36.4% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +14.1% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | +32.9% |
| 2013 | 9.9% | +91.3% |
| 2014 | 11.9% | +19.6% |
| 2015 | 13.0% | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 14.7% | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 14.1% | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | -47.1% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | +57.9% |
| 2020 | 15.8% | +34.6% |
| 2021 | 11.2% | -28.9% |
| 2022 | 9.6% | -14.3% |
| 2023 | 10.6% | +10.0% |
| 2024 | 9.8% | -8.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 9.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 13.3%, 73% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 9.8% is below the median for South Asia, which is 12.9%, 76% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.1% | 5.1% | 14.2% | 3 |
| 1980s | 9.1% | 2.6% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.3% | 0.8% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.1% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 3.4% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 9.6% | 15.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More economy & growth data for Nepal
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.28 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 0 BoP, current US$ (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0 BoP, current US$ per person (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 56.90 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -23.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.92 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 33.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Nepal?
- Short-term debt in Nepal was 9.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 28.5% in 1983.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1992.
- How does Nepal rank for short-term debt?
- Nepal ranks 71st out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.