Liberia External Debt to GNI
External debt stocks as % of GNI DT.DOD.DECT.GN.ZS
Liberia's external debt to gni was 50.36% in 2025, ranked 40th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Liberia's external debt to gni stood at 50.36% in 2025, a decline of +0.10pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 50.36% by 2025. Liberia ranked 40th globally.
Liberia’s external debt-to‑GNI ratio has risen modestly from 45.67 % in 1970 to 50.36 % in 2025, placing the country at rank 40 globally and slightly below peers such as Armenia (50.94 %) and Bulgaria (50.24 %). The indicator’s trajectory is marked by an extreme peak of 1 343.27 % in 1995, a period of civil conflict and hyper‑inflation that drove external liabilities far beyond the size of the economy. A pronounced trough followed in 2013, when the ratio fell to 18.47 % as debt relief initiatives and fiscal consolidation reduced the burden. Since that low, the ratio has climbed steadily, reflecting renewed borrowing for infrastructure and social programs amid a recovering macro‑environment. If fiscal discipline is maintained and debt‑service capacity improves, the upward momentum could moderate, allowing Liberia to keep the ratio nearer the lower end of the regional distribution in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt to GNI | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 49.33% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 49.84% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 50.36% | - | - |
| 2025 | 50.36% | −0.10pp | #40 |
| 2024 | 50.46% | −0.69pp | #72 |
| 2023 | 51.15% | −0.09pp | #68 |
| 2022 | 51.24% | −4.85pp | #65 |
| 2021 | 56.09% | +5.54pp | #67 |
| 2020 | 50.55% | +7.85pp | #54 |
| 2019 | 42.70% | +3.94pp | #57 |
| 2018 | 38.76% | +2.55pp | #53 |
| 2017 | 36.21% | +5.74pp | #52 |
| 2016 | 30.47% | +2.06pp | #38 |
| 2015 | 28.41% | +4.85pp | #38 |
| 2014 | 23.57% | +5.10pp | #33 |
| 2013 | 18.47% | −0.79pp | #20 |
| 2012 | 19.26% | −0.47pp | #26 |
| 2011 | 19.73% | −3.30pp | #24 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Liberia matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw external debt to gni improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Liberia's external debt to gni was 50.36% in 2025. Ranked 40th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from the previous year.
Liberia's external debt to gni peaked at 1,343.27% in 1995.
The lowest external debt to gni in Liberia was 18.47% in 2013.
Liberia ranks 40th globally in external debt to gni as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.GN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Liberia's external debt to gni is projected to reach 50.36% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The external debt to gni of Liberia in 2025 was 50.36%. This ranks 40th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_liberia_external-debt-to-gni,
title = {Liberia External Debt to GNI},
url = {https://historysaid.com/liberia/external-debt-to-gni/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}