Short-term debt in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Short-term debt was 28.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka stood at 28.7%.
That represents a change of down 30.1% on the previous year and down 33.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Sri Lanka peaked at 63.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 1998.
Sri Lanka ranks 23rd of 119 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Short-term debt in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 11.3% | — |
| 1976 | 12.9% | +14.5% |
| 1977 | 16.8% | +30.6% |
| 1978 | 11.3% | -32.7% |
| 1979 | 11.6% | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 16.4% | +41.5% |
| 1981 | 14.8% | -9.6% |
| 1982 | 20.5% | +37.9% |
| 1983 | 20.2% | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 10.8% | -46.3% |
| 1985 | 12.5% | +15.7% |
| 1986 | 11.7% | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 15.3% | +30.8% |
| 1988 | 30.8% | +101.9% |
| 1989 | 21.0% | -31.9% |
| 1990 | 17.0% | -19.2% |
| 1991 | 15.7% | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 8.4% | -46.9% |
| 1993 | 7.5% | -9.7% |
| 1994 | 13.1% | +73.8% |
| 1995 | 11.1% | -15.6% |
| 1996 | 11.1% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 8.2% | -26.2% |
| 1998 | 7.1% | -13.7% |
| 1999 | 16.2% | +129.4% |
| 2000 | 10.5% | -35.4% |
| 2001 | 11.7% | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 15.6% | +34.0% |
| 2003 | 11.3% | -27.7% |
| 2004 | 13.9% | +22.7% |
| 2005 | 9.7% | -30.0% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | -19.1% |
| 2007 | 13.6% | +72.9% |
| 2008 | 26.4% | +94.4% |
| 2009 | 39.1% | +48.2% |
| 2010 | 21.1% | -45.9% |
| 2011 | 25.3% | +19.8% |
| 2012 | 46.8% | +84.7% |
| 2013 | 44.5% | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 43.4% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 44.4% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 42.2% | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 41.6% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 39.9% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 42.9% | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 63.2% | +47.3% |
| 2021 | 57.2% | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 52.3% | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 41.0% | -21.5% |
| 2024 | 28.7% | -30.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 28.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.7%, 1.6× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 28.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 12.9%, 2.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.8% | 11.3% | 16.8% | 5 |
| 1980s | 17.4% | 10.8% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.5% | 7.1% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.9% | 7.8% | 39.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.2% | 21.1% | 46.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.5% | 28.7% | 63.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 110.33 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0011 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.03 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 761.14 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 6.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0076 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 34.73 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 38.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Sri Lanka?
- Short-term debt in Sri Lanka was 28.7% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 63.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 1998.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for short-term debt?
- Sri Lanka ranks 23rd out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.