Total debt service in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Total debt service was 5.0% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
5.0%
Change on year
up 41.4%
World rank
52nd
of 122 countries
All-time high
8.0%
in 2018
All-time low
1.8%
in 2005
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Total debt service in Sri Lanka, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2024, total debt service in Sri Lanka stood at 5.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 41.4% on the previous year and down 38.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Sri Lanka peaked at 8.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2005.
Sri Lanka ranks 52nd of 122 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Total debt service in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.2% | — |
| 1971 | 3.0% | -5.2% |
| 1972 | 3.3% | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 3.0% | -7.2% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 5.0% | +66.4% |
| 1976 | 5.2% | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 4.8% | -8.9% |
| 1978 | 5.9% | +23.1% |
| 1979 | 4.8% | -18.5% |
| 1980 | 4.4% | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 4.8% | +9.5% |
| 1982 | 5.1% | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 5.2% | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 4.7% | -9.6% |
| 1985 | 5.4% | +15.2% |
| 1986 | 6.3% | +16.2% |
| 1987 | 7.5% | +19.5% |
| 1988 | 7.0% | -6.3% |
| 1989 | 6.1% | -13.0% |
| 1990 | 4.8% | -20.9% |
| 1991 | 4.7% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 4.7% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | -15.6% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | -9.7% |
| 1995 | 3.5% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | -3.1% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | +6.0% |
| 1999 | 4.9% | +30.5% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 4.8% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 4.4% | -9.3% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | -25.1% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | +16.5% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -51.9% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | +87.2% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | -20.5% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -29.1% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | -19.3% |
| 2012 | 3.1% | +56.7% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | +180.9% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | -46.6% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | -9.4% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | +18.1% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | +75.6% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | -10.2% |
| 2020 | 6.2% | -14.7% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | -10.8% |
| 2022 | 4.6% | -15.9% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -24.1% |
| 2024 | 5.0% | +41.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.1% | 3.0% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.6% | 4.4% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.1% | 3.4% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 1.8% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | 2.0% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 3.5% | 6.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 10.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2353 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,177 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth -62.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth -61.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 8.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 25.17 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 125,886 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Sri Lanka?
- Total debt service in Sri Lanka was 5.0% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2005.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for total debt service?
- Sri Lanka ranks 52nd out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.
Download this data
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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.