Short-term debt in South Asia
South Asia: Short-term debt was 16.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Short-term debt in South Asia, 1975–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
In 2024, short-term debt in South Asia stood at 16.6%.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in South Asia peaked at 32.2% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2001.
South Asia ranks 23rd of 32 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Short-term debt in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 8.7% | — |
| 1976 | 7.5% | -13.5% |
| 1977 | 6.7% | -11.4% |
| 1978 | 8.2% | +23.1% |
| 1979 | 7.5% | -8.0% |
| 1980 | 11.4% | +50.9% |
| 1981 | 13.7% | +20.6% |
| 1982 | 19.0% | +38.6% |
| 1983 | 24.0% | +26.0% |
| 1984 | 23.5% | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 28.5% | +21.3% |
| 1986 | 30.9% | +8.5% |
| 1987 | 31.3% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 32.2% | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 32.1% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 32.1% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 26.9% | -16.3% |
| 1992 | 21.4% | -20.3% |
| 1993 | 11.6% | -46.0% |
| 1994 | 12.2% | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 11.5% | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 13.9% | +20.9% |
| 1997 | 9.6% | -30.7% |
| 1998 | 8.1% | -16.0% |
| 1999 | 7.7% | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 5.8% | -24.9% |
| 2001 | 4.9% | -15.6% |
| 2002 | 6.5% | +31.8% |
| 2003 | 7.4% | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 6.2% | -16.3% |
| 2005 | 5.7% | -7.8% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | +109.3% |
| 2007 | 13.9% | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 13.9% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 17.3% | +24.9% |
| 2010 | 15.7% | -9.4% |
| 2011 | 16.7% | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 20.4% | +22.1% |
| 2013 | 19.4% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 17.6% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 19.2% | +9.2% |
| 2016 | 19.6% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 20.4% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 19.3% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 19.6% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 21.9% | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 19.2% | -12.3% |
| 2022 | 17.7% | -7.7% |
| 2023 | 16.8% | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 16.6% | -1.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Short-term debt in South Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +109.3% | 5.7% | 12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.7% | 6.7% | 8.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 24.7% | 11.4% | 32.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.5% | 7.7% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.4% | 4.9% | 17.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 15.7% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.5% | 16.6% | 21.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More economy & growth data for South Asia
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 6.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.0821 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 221.99 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5874 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5559 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 5.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,504 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 275.19 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in South Asia?
- Short-term debt in South Asia was 16.6% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.2% in 1988.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2001.
- How does South Asia rank for short-term debt?
- South Asia ranks 23rd out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Asia 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.