Total debt service in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Total debt service was 4.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2024, total debt service in Africa Western and Central stood at 4.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 55.7% on the previous year and up 293.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Africa Western and Central peaked at 7.3% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2010.
That places Africa Western and Central 7th out of 32 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total debt service in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.6% | — |
| 1971 | 1.6% | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | -9.4% |
| 1973 | 1.7% | +16.9% |
| 1974 | 1.7% | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 2.0% | +17.8% |
| 1976 | 2.3% | +12.7% |
| 1977 | 2.6% | +13.5% |
| 1978 | 3.4% | +32.0% |
| 1979 | 4.1% | +19.7% |
| 1980 | 6.0% | +45.0% |
| 1981 | 6.7% | +12.4% |
| 1982 | 6.6% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 5.8% | -12.5% |
| 1984 | 5.7% | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 5.7% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 7.3% | +28.9% |
| 1987 | 7.2% | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 6.9% | -4.9% |
| 1989 | 6.0% | -12.0% |
| 1990 | 5.9% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 5.3% | -10.2% |
| 1992 | 4.6% | -13.6% |
| 1993 | 4.2% | -9.3% |
| 1994 | 7.2% | +74.2% |
| 1995 | 5.6% | -22.5% |
| 1996 | 6.1% | +8.0% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | -6.0% |
| 1998 | 5.6% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 5.3% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | -25.0% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | -13.0% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | -13.1% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | -12.8% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | -16.1% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -13.3% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | +22.3% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | -38.4% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -36.9% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | -24.9% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | +10.5% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | +20.6% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | +33.8% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | +80.4% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | +15.6% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | -22.5% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | +16.9% |
| 2023 | 3.1% | +24.0% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | +55.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.3% | 1.5% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.4% | 5.7% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.6% | 4.2% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 0.9% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | 0.7% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.1% | 4.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 4 Suriname 20.5% compare
- 5 Papua New Guinea 20.4% compare
- 6 Zambia 17.3% compare
- 7 Kazakhstan 17.3% compare
- 8 Georgia 15.2% compare
- 9 Montenegro 15.0% compare
- 10 Lao People's Democratic Republic 13.8% compare
More economy & growth data for Africa Western and Central
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 1,515 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.6205 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 992.81 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 15.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9471 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 1.11 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (current US$), annual growth rate 15.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 1,768 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 794.5 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Africa Western and Central?
- Total debt service in Africa Western and Central was 4.9% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 7.3% in 1986.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2010.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for total debt service?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 7th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 293.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total debt service (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.