Short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries): Short-term debt was 29.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 1972–2024
Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total reserves.
Analysis
In 2024, short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 29.5%.
That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 118.1% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 21.3%, in 2009.
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 24th of 32 groups 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 Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of total reserves | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 66.0% | — |
| 1973 | 50.4% | -23.6% |
| 1992 | 109.6% | +117.5% |
| 1993 | 103.4% | -5.6% |
| 1994 | 118.1% | +14.2% |
| 1995 | 102.4% | -13.3% |
| 1996 | 84.1% | -17.9% |
| 1997 | 85.5% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 83.1% | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 80.8% | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 76.0% | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 61.6% | -19.0% |
| 2002 | 59.7% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 56.5% | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 51.6% | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 49.6% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | -23.0% |
| 2007 | 28.5% | -25.3% |
| 2008 | 24.5% | -14.1% |
| 2009 | 21.3% | -13.1% |
| 2010 | 26.1% | +22.4% |
| 2011 | 22.1% | -15.1% |
| 2012 | 22.6% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 26.4% | +17.0% |
| 2014 | 27.4% | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 29.2% | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 24.0% | -17.6% |
| 2017 | 24.1% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 29.5% | +22.3% |
| 2019 | 31.4% | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 24.5% | -22.1% |
| 2021 | 25.5% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 27.9% | +9.5% |
| 2023 | 30.6% | +9.8% |
| 2024 | 29.5% | -3.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +117.5% | 50.4% | 109.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 58.2% | 50.4% | 66.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 95.9% | 80.8% | 118.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 46.8% | 21.3% | 76.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.3% | 22.1% | 31.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.6% | 24.5% | 30.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 21 Zambia 68.3% compare
- 22 Fiji 65.8% compare
- 23 North Macedonia 60.5% compare
- 24 Bangladesh 60.5% compare
- 25 Ghana 58.6% compare
- 26 Lebanon 57.2% compare
- 27 Tanzania, United Republic of 56.1% compare
More economy & growth data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6893 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 2.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.136 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 1,472 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 6,311 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5831 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,700 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7,460 current US$ per person (2025)
All data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Short-term debt in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) was 29.5% in 2024, according to World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 118.1% in 1994.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.3% in 2009.
- How does Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for short-term debt?
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 24th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.