Short-term debt in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Short-term debt was 48.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total reserves.
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 48.8% for short-term debt in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 52.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Africa Western and Central peaked at 314.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 10.6%, in 1976.
That places Africa Western and Central 6th out of 32 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Short-term debt in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of total reserves | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 69.7% | — |
| 1971 | 52.0% | -25.4% |
| 1972 | 61.8% | +18.9% |
| 1973 | 64.2% | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 11.1% | -82.7% |
| 1975 | 11.0% | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 10.6% | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 61.8% | +480.6% |
| 1978 | 132.2% | +114.0% |
| 1979 | 49.3% | -62.7% |
| 1980 | 39.9% | -19.1% |
| 1981 | 105.5% | +164.1% |
| 1982 | 126.2% | +19.7% |
| 1983 | 278.7% | +120.8% |
| 1984 | 270.6% | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 232.0% | -14.3% |
| 1986 | 263.1% | +13.4% |
| 1987 | 193.6% | -26.4% |
| 1988 | 225.4% | +16.4% |
| 1989 | 114.1% | -49.4% |
| 1990 | 89.3% | -21.8% |
| 1991 | 85.7% | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 280.7% | +227.4% |
| 1993 | 314.9% | +12.2% |
| 1994 | 262.3% | -16.7% |
| 1995 | 285.0% | +8.6% |
| 1996 | 152.0% | -46.7% |
| 1997 | 110.6% | -27.2% |
| 1998 | 137.6% | +24.4% |
| 1999 | 169.5% | +23.1% |
| 2000 | 53.0% | -68.7% |
| 2001 | 54.7% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 73.1% | +33.5% |
| 2003 | 78.2% | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 47.5% | -39.3% |
| 2005 | 31.2% | -34.3% |
| 2006 | 22.7% | -27.1% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | -12.6% |
| 2008 | 15.7% | -21.2% |
| 2009 | 15.2% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 26.0% | +71.1% |
| 2011 | 28.7% | +10.8% |
| 2012 | 30.6% | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 33.2% | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 32.0% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 32.3% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 28.5% | -12.0% |
| 2017 | 42.0% | +47.8% |
| 2018 | 33.9% | -19.3% |
| 2019 | 49.1% | +44.6% |
| 2020 | 45.0% | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 39.2% | -12.9% |
| 2022 | 51.5% | +31.5% |
| 2023 | 48.8% | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 48.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52.4% | 10.6% | 132.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 184.9% | 39.9% | 278.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 188.8% | 85.7% | 314.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.1% | 15.2% | 78.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.6% | 26.0% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.6% | 39.2% | 51.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More economy & growth data for Africa Western and Central
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 1,515 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.6205 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 992.81 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 15.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9471 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 1.11 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (current US$), annual growth rate 15.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 1,768 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 794.5 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Africa Western and Central?
- Short-term debt in Africa Western and Central was 48.8% in 2024, according to World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 314.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.6% in 1976.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for short-term debt?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 6th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB), published as part of Short-term debt (% of total reserves). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Total reserves includes gold.