Total debt service in Ghana
Ghana: Total debt service was 9.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Ghana, 1975–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total debt service in Ghana is 9.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 38.3% on the previous year and down 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Ghana peaked at 56.9% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2011.
Ghana ranks 81st of 120 countries 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.
Total debt service in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 6.5% | — |
| 1976 | 5.8% | -10.4% |
| 1977 | 3.7% | -36.0% |
| 1978 | 7.4% | +99.5% |
| 1979 | 8.9% | +20.0% |
| 1980 | 13.1% | +47.4% |
| 1981 | 14.3% | +8.7% |
| 1982 | 15.6% | +9.2% |
| 1983 | 30.4% | +95.5% |
| 1984 | 21.7% | -28.6% |
| 1985 | 23.6% | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 28.3% | +20.1% |
| 1987 | 45.8% | +61.7% |
| 1988 | 56.9% | +24.3% |
| 1989 | 50.8% | -10.8% |
| 1990 | 38.8% | -23.6% |
| 1991 | 28.1% | -27.5% |
| 1992 | 28.4% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 25.6% | -9.6% |
| 1994 | 26.7% | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 25.4% | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 27.6% | +8.4% |
| 1997 | 33.2% | +20.6% |
| 1998 | 22.8% | -31.5% |
| 1999 | 21.1% | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 19.0% | -10.0% |
| 2001 | 12.9% | -32.1% |
| 2002 | 8.6% | -33.6% |
| 2003 | 15.6% | +81.8% |
| 2004 | 8.0% | -48.6% |
| 2005 | 8.9% | +10.9% |
| 2006 | 6.3% | -29.6% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | -22.4% |
| 2008 | 4.4% | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 4.6% | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 4.9% | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -28.1% |
| 2012 | 5.7% | +60.3% |
| 2013 | 5.2% | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 16.7% | +219.8% |
| 2015 | 7.4% | -55.9% |
| 2016 | 26.0% | +252.8% |
| 2017 | 30.6% | +17.7% |
| 2018 | 19.1% | -37.7% |
| 2019 | 36.0% | +88.5% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | -64.6% |
| 2021 | 13.4% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 22.1% | +65.5% |
| 2023 | 15.3% | -30.9% |
| 2024 | 9.4% | -38.3% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 9.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.6%, 57% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 9.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.8%, 80% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total debt service in Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +252.8% | 7.4% | 26.0% |
| 2014 | +219.8% | 5.2% | 16.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.5% | 3.7% | 8.9% | 5 |
| 1980s | 30.0% | 13.1% | 56.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.8% | 21.1% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.3% | 4.4% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.5% | 3.5% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 9.4% | 22.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 38.84 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.11 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.91 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 8.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0167 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 54.42 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 23.42 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Ghana?
- Total debt service in Ghana was 9.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 56.9% in 1988.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2011.
- How does Ghana rank for total debt service?
- Ghana ranks 81st out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total debt service to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.