Bosnia and Herzegovina External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
Bosnia and Herzegovina's external debt was $13.8B in 2025, ranked 60th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1999–2025.
Overview
Bosnia and Herzegovina's external debt stood at $13.8B in 2025, a decline of +$122.3M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $13.8B by 2025. Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked 60th globally.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s external debt has expanded dramatically since the late 1990s, rising from a trough of 2,408,825,764.20 in 1999 to an all‑time peak of 14,356,729,617.00 in 2010, before easing slightly to the 2025 figure of 13,766,240,337.58, which places the country 60th globally. The steep increase during the early 2000s reflects post‑war reconstruction financing and heightened external borrowing, while the modest post‑peak decline indicates a gradual improvement in debt servicing capacity. Compared with peers of similar rank, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s debt level is close to Rwanda’s 13,861,100,682.58 and North Macedonia’s 13,699,501,073.68, suggesting that its external obligations are broadly comparable within the group of middle‑ranked economies. Continued fiscal consolidation, stronger export performance, and prudent borrowing could further reduce the debt stock, potentially shifting the trajectory toward a sustained downward trend in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $13.8B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $13.8B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $13.8B | - | - |
| 2025 | $13.8B | −$122.3M | #60 |
| 2024 | $13.9B | +$20.1M | #61 |
| 2023 | $13.9B | +$428.3M | #62 |
| 2022 | $13.4B | −$306.6M | #62 |
| 2021 | $13.7B | −$233.6M | #61 |
| 2020 | $14.0B | +$1.3B | #66 |
| 2019 | $12.7B | −$284.3M | #65 |
| 2018 | $13.0B | −$81.0M | #66 |
| 2017 | $13.1B | +$1.4B | #70 |
| 2016 | $11.7B | +$9.1M | #70 |
| 2015 | $11.7B | −$1.5B | #72 |
| 2014 | $13.1B | −$708.4M | #75 |
| 2013 | $13.8B | +$780.2M | #78 |
| 2012 | $13.1B | +$650.9M | #77 |
| 2011 | $12.4B | −$1.9B | #76 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Bosnia and Herzegovina matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Bosnia and Herzegovina's external debt was $13.8B in 2025. Ranked 60th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's external debt peaked at $14.4B in 2010.
The lowest external debt in Bosnia and Herzegovina was $2.4B in 1999.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 60th globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's external debt is projected to reach $13.8B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's external debt was approximately 13.77 billion ($13.8B) in 2025.
The external debt of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2025 was $13.8B. This ranks 60th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_bosnia-and-herzegovina_external-debt,
title = {Bosnia and Herzegovina External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/bosnia-and-herzegovina/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}