Short-term debt in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Short-term debt was 56.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1975–2024
Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total reserves.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 56.9% for short-term debt in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 261.9% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 28.0%, in 1975.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd of 32 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Short-term debt in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total reserves | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 28.0% | — |
| 1976 | 33.2% | +18.6% |
| 1977 | 82.9% | +149.9% |
| 1985 | 261.9% | +215.8% |
| 1986 | 182.3% | -30.4% |
| 1987 | 147.7% | -18.9% |
| 1988 | 160.1% | +8.3% |
| 1989 | 136.9% | -14.5% |
| 1990 | 121.4% | -11.3% |
| 1991 | 116.2% | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 172.9% | +48.8% |
| 1993 | 190.1% | +9.9% |
| 1994 | 182.5% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 188.5% | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 168.3% | -10.7% |
| 1997 | 129.6% | -23.0% |
| 1998 | 148.4% | +14.5% |
| 1999 | 134.1% | -9.7% |
| 2000 | 85.2% | -36.5% |
| 2001 | 81.7% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 77.1% | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 84.4% | +9.5% |
| 2004 | 62.7% | -25.7% |
| 2005 | 52.7% | -16.0% |
| 2006 | 45.7% | -13.4% |
| 2007 | 41.7% | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 39.7% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 37.9% | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 44.2% | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 39.6% | -10.2% |
| 2012 | 44.2% | +11.6% |
| 2013 | 46.9% | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 50.1% | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 50.4% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 49.3% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 54.5% | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 52.3% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 54.5% | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 52.3% | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 47.6% | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 57.3% | +20.4% |
| 2023 | 55.7% | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 56.9% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 48.0% | 28.0% | 82.9% | 3 |
| 1980s | 177.8% | 136.9% | 261.9% | 5 |
| 1990s | 155.2% | 116.2% | 190.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.9% | 37.9% | 85.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.6% | 39.6% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.0% | 47.6% | 57.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 420.94 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2516 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 466.42 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2438 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 4.68 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Short-term debt in Sub-Saharan Africa was 56.9% in 2024, according to World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 261.9% in 1985.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.0% in 1975.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for short-term debt?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.