Short-term debt in Ghana
Ghana: Short-term debt was 58.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
58.6%
Change on year
down 43.6%
World rank
24th
of 111 countries
All-time high
171.5%
in 2000
All-time low
2.7%
in 1976
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Short-term debt in Ghana, 1970–2024
Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total reserves.
Analysis
The most recent figure for short-term debt in Ghana is 58.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 43.6% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Ghana peaked at 171.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1976.
Ghana ranks 24th of 111 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of total reserves | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.9% | — |
| 1971 | 12.3% | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 15.6% | +26.7% |
| 1973 | 13.2% | -15.5% |
| 1974 | 9.0% | -31.7% |
| 1975 | 3.9% | -56.2% |
| 1976 | 2.7% | -31.3% |
| 1977 | 123.5% | +4454.9% |
| 1978 | 112.3% | -9.1% |
| 1979 | 50.8% | -54.8% |
| 1980 | 39.7% | -21.9% |
| 1981 | 106.6% | +168.7% |
| 1982 | 66.1% | -38.0% |
| 1983 | 31.9% | -51.8% |
| 1984 | 55.5% | +74.2% |
| 1985 | 34.5% | -37.9% |
| 1986 | 30.3% | -12.1% |
| 1987 | 36.7% | +21.0% |
| 1988 | 25.2% | -31.2% |
| 1989 | 47.0% | +86.3% |
| 1990 | 103.5% | +120.3% |
| 1991 | 61.1% | -41.0% |
| 1992 | 100.7% | +64.9% |
| 1993 | 91.6% | -9.0% |
| 1994 | 84.1% | -8.2% |
| 1995 | 77.3% | -8.2% |
| 1996 | 70.3% | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 109.7% | +56.1% |
| 1998 | 158.0% | +44.0% |
| 1999 | 134.3% | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 171.5% | +27.7% |
| 2001 | 122.0% | -28.8% |
| 2002 | 100.1% | -17.9% |
| 2003 | 51.5% | -48.6% |
| 2004 | 31.5% | -38.9% |
| 2005 | 40.7% | +29.3% |
| 2006 | 52.1% | +28.0% |
| 2007 | 55.0% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 55.9% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 40.9% | -26.8% |
| 2010 | 40.6% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 45.6% | +12.4% |
| 2012 | 44.7% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 65.3% | +46.2% |
| 2014 | 55.0% | -15.8% |
| 2015 | 57.5% | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 47.6% | -17.3% |
| 2017 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 58.0% | +22.1% |
| 2019 | 61.4% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 65.6% | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 51.8% | -21.0% |
| 2022 | 89.4% | +72.4% |
| 2023 | 103.8% | +16.1% |
| 2024 | 58.6% | -43.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.5% | 2.7% | 123.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 47.3% | 25.2% | 106.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 99.1% | 61.1% | 158.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.1% | 31.5% | 171.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.3% | 40.6% | 65.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.8% | 51.8% | 103.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 21 Fiji 65.8% compare
- 22 North Macedonia 60.5% compare
- 23 Bangladesh 60.5% compare
- 25 Lebanon 57.2% compare
- 26 Tanzania, United Republic of 56.1% compare
- 27 Nigeria 55.0% compare
More economy & growth data for Ghana
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.15 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 649.98 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 37.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2925 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 952.81 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 21.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 3.67 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 11,964 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.3 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Ghana?
- Short-term debt in Ghana was 58.6% in 2024, according to World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 171.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1976.
- How does Ghana rank for short-term debt?
- Ghana ranks 24th out of 111 countries with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.