Total debt service in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Total debt service was 21.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Nicaragua, 1977–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 21.4% for total debt service in 2024.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 61.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Nicaragua peaked at 156.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1990.
Nicaragua ranks 32nd 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 15.6% | — |
| 1978 | 15.3% | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 9.7% | -36.9% |
| 1980 | 23.7% | +144.6% |
| 1981 | 39.8% | +67.9% |
| 1982 | 45.8% | +15.2% |
| 1983 | 22.1% | -51.9% |
| 1984 | 19.3% | -12.3% |
| 1985 | 21.7% | +12.3% |
| 1986 | 15.3% | -29.5% |
| 1987 | 22.6% | +47.4% |
| 1988 | 13.3% | -41.0% |
| 1989 | 5.5% | -58.9% |
| 1990 | 5.0% | -8.7% |
| 1991 | 156.9% | +3034.2% |
| 1992 | 35.8% | -77.2% |
| 1993 | 36.7% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 42.4% | +15.3% |
| 1995 | 46.7% | +10.3% |
| 1996 | 33.6% | -28.0% |
| 1997 | 40.4% | +20.0% |
| 1998 | 29.9% | -26.0% |
| 1999 | 21.7% | -27.3% |
| 2000 | 29.4% | +35.3% |
| 2001 | 35.9% | +22.3% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | -52.1% |
| 2003 | 19.0% | +10.6% |
| 2004 | 10.7% | -43.8% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | +13.5% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | -35.8% |
| 2007 | 16.0% | +105.2% |
| 2008 | 14.5% | -9.6% |
| 2009 | 16.5% | +13.9% |
| 2010 | 16.1% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 16.5% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 42.6% | +158.1% |
| 2013 | 45.2% | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 54.8% | +21.3% |
| 2015 | 30.6% | -44.3% |
| 2016 | 35.8% | +17.2% |
| 2017 | 45.4% | +26.8% |
| 2018 | 38.5% | -15.2% |
| 2019 | 31.2% | -18.9% |
| 2020 | 33.5% | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 24.2% | -27.6% |
| 2022 | 23.7% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 20.7% | -12.6% |
| 2024 | 21.4% | +3.2% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 21.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.6%, 1.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 21.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 19.8%, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total debt service in Nicaragua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +3034.2% | 5.0% | 156.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.5% | 9.7% | 15.6% | 3 |
| 1980s | 22.9% | 5.5% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.9% | 5.0% | 156.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 7.8% | 35.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.7% | 16.1% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.7% | 20.7% | 33.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More economy & growth data for Nicaragua
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 73.80 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0037 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 10.67 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 21.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0687 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 195.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 36.36 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Nicaragua?
- Total debt service in Nicaragua was 21.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 156.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1990.
- How does Nicaragua rank for total debt service?
- Nicaragua ranks 32nd out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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
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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.