Short-term debt in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Short-term debt was 29.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Least developed countries, 1970–2024
Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total reserves.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 29.4% for short-term debt in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Least developed countries peaked at 400.8% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 2019.
Least developed countries ranks 27th of 32 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Short-term debt in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of total reserves | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 28.2% | — |
| 1972 | 40.4% | +43.6% |
| 1973 | 40.2% | -0.7% |
| 1974 | 51.4% | +28.0% |
| 1975 | 91.9% | +78.9% |
| 1976 | 99.3% | +8.0% |
| 1977 | 126.1% | +27.1% |
| 1978 | 167.8% | +33.0% |
| 1979 | 136.3% | -18.7% |
| 1980 | 158.2% | +16.1% |
| 1981 | 197.0% | +24.5% |
| 1982 | 259.8% | +31.8% |
| 1983 | 231.3% | -10.9% |
| 1984 | 330.8% | +43.0% |
| 1985 | 400.8% | +21.2% |
| 1986 | 190.9% | -52.4% |
| 1987 | 183.6% | -3.8% |
| 1988 | 198.9% | +8.4% |
| 1989 | 271.8% | +36.6% |
| 1990 | 259.1% | -4.6% |
| 1991 | 233.3% | -10.0% |
| 1992 | 216.1% | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 207.5% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 170.5% | -17.8% |
| 1995 | 184.4% | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 164.4% | -10.9% |
| 1997 | 156.6% | -4.8% |
| 1998 | 167.6% | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 151.9% | -9.4% |
| 2000 | 118.5% | -22.0% |
| 2001 | 108.0% | -8.9% |
| 2002 | 76.4% | -29.3% |
| 2003 | 66.7% | -12.7% |
| 2004 | 59.4% | -10.9% |
| 2005 | 58.4% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 45.8% | -21.7% |
| 2007 | 39.7% | -13.3% |
| 2008 | 33.1% | -16.6% |
| 2009 | 27.3% | -17.4% |
| 2010 | 28.1% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 23.3% | -17.2% |
| 2012 | 23.5% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 26.0% | +10.6% |
| 2014 | 24.0% | -7.7% |
| 2015 | 25.9% | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 25.4% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 27.5% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 21.3% | -22.6% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 22.0% | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 27.7% | +25.8% |
| 2022 | 32.9% | +18.9% |
| 2023 | 28.8% | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 29.4% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 86.8% | 28.2% | 167.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 242.3% | 158.2% | 400.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 191.1% | 151.9% | 259.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.3% | 27.3% | 118.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.6% | 21.2% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.1% | 22.0% | 32.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 24 Ghana 58.6% compare
- 25 Lebanon 57.2% compare
- 26 Tanzania, United Republic of 56.1% compare
- 27 Nigeria 55.0% compare
- 28 Pakistan 52.2% compare
- 29 Lao People's Democratic Republic 49.6% compare
- 30 Cape Verde 49.6% compare
More economy & growth data for Least developed countries
- Inflation, GDP deflator 4.8% (2025)
- Trade in services 8.6% (2024)
- Industry (including construction), value added 402.31 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 4.9% (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 29.7% (2025)
- Services, value added 737.78 billion current US$ (2025)
- Services, value added 622.97 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Services, value added 4.6% (2025)
- Services, value added 44.6% (2025)
- GDP per capita 1,362 current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Least developed countries?
- Short-term debt in Least developed countries was 29.4% in 2024, according to World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 400.8% in 1985.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 2019.
- How does Least developed countries rank for short-term debt?
- Least developed countries ranks 27th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.