Short-term debt in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Short-term debt was 15.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Nicaragua, 1977–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 15.8% for short-term debt in 2024.
That represents a change of up 31.7% on the previous year and down 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Nicaragua peaked at 621.5% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 2023.
Nicaragua ranks 51st 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 58.5% | — |
| 1978 | 68.4% | +16.8% |
| 1979 | 57.5% | -15.9% |
| 1980 | 91.9% | +59.9% |
| 1981 | 59.7% | -35.0% |
| 1982 | 92.5% | +55.0% |
| 1983 | 135.0% | +45.9% |
| 1984 | 148.3% | +9.8% |
| 1985 | 246.5% | +66.3% |
| 1986 | 353.5% | +43.4% |
| 1987 | 466.8% | +32.0% |
| 1988 | 621.5% | +33.1% |
| 1989 | 596.0% | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 603.4% | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 501.5% | -16.9% |
| 1992 | 585.5% | +16.8% |
| 1993 | 525.6% | -10.2% |
| 1994 | 489.5% | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 289.1% | -40.9% |
| 1996 | 121.0% | -58.1% |
| 1997 | 102.9% | -15.0% |
| 1998 | 85.8% | -16.6% |
| 1999 | 96.1% | +12.0% |
| 2000 | 92.7% | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 71.4% | -22.9% |
| 2002 | 60.9% | -14.8% |
| 2003 | 58.6% | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 40.3% | -31.3% |
| 2005 | 37.7% | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 28.6% | -24.0% |
| 2007 | 46.2% | +61.3% |
| 2008 | 38.7% | -16.3% |
| 2009 | 35.2% | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 39.3% | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 32.8% | -16.5% |
| 2012 | 33.9% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 33.9% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 28.1% | -17.3% |
| 2015 | 24.9% | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 27.2% | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 24.9% | -8.1% |
| 2018 | 24.3% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 20.8% | -14.7% |
| 2020 | 19.3% | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 16.2% | -15.9% |
| 2022 | 14.3% | -11.9% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | -16.1% |
| 2024 | 15.8% | +31.7% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 15.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 13.3%, 1.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 15.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 14.1%, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 61.4% | 57.5% | 68.4% | 3 |
| 1980s | 281.2% | 59.7% | 621.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 340.0% | 85.8% | 603.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.0% | 28.6% | 92.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.0% | 20.8% | 39.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 12.0% | 19.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More economy & growth data for Nicaragua
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 73.80 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0037 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 10.67 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 21.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0687 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 195.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 36.36 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Nicaragua?
- Short-term debt in Nicaragua was 15.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 621.5% in 1988.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 2023.
- How does Nicaragua rank for short-term debt?
- Nicaragua ranks 51st out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.