Namibia Interest Payments to Revenue
Interest payments as % of revenue GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS
Namibia's interest payments to revenue was 16.60% in 2025, ranked 20th globally. This represents a 14.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Namibia's interest payments to revenue stood at 16.60% in 2025, a rise of +2.09pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 16.60% by 2025. Namibia ranked 20th globally.
Namibia’s interest payments to revenue have risen sharply over the 35‑year series, moving from a low of 0.74 % in 1992 to an all‑time peak of 16.60 % in 2025, the latest figure that places the country 20th globally. The early 1990s saw interest costs barely dent the fiscal ledger, but fiscal consolidation, expanding public debt and higher global borrowing rates have driven the share of revenue devoted to debt service upward, mirroring a similar trajectory in the Dominican Republic, which recorded 17.61 % in the same year. By contrast, Iceland’s 16.95 % and Costa Rica’s 16.50 % illustrate that Namibia now competes with economies that face comparable debt‑service pressures despite differing income levels and economic structures. The steep climb from 1.34 % in 1990 to the current level underscores a growing vulnerability to interest‑rate shocks and limits fiscal space for public investment. If Namibia can curb debt accumulation and lock in lower‑cost financing, the upward trend in interest‑to‑revenue ratios could be moderated in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Interest Payments to Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 17.37% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 16.60% | - | - |
| 2025 | 16.60% | +2.09pp | #20 |
| 2023 | 14.52% | −0.14pp | #79 |
| 2022 | 14.66% | +0.37pp | #94 |
| 2021 | 14.28% | +1.71pp | #103 |
| 2020 | 12.57% | +0.82pp | #107 |
| 2019 | 11.75% | +1.00pp | #107 |
| 2018 | 10.75% | +1.08pp | #101 |
| 2017 | 9.67% | +0.87pp | #103 |
| 2016 | 8.80% | +3.77pp | #91 |
| 2015 | 5.02% | +0.90pp | #67 |
| 2014 | 4.12% | −0.10pp | #56 |
| 2013 | 4.22% | −0.30pp | #50 |
| 2012 | 4.52% | +0.71pp | #54 |
| 2011 | 3.82% | −0.31pp | #46 |
| 2010 | 4.13% | −0.85pp | #50 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Namibia matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2009. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw interest payments to revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Namibia's interest payments to revenue was 16.60% in 2025. Ranked 20th globally. This represents a 14.4% increase from the previous year.
Namibia's interest payments to revenue peaked at 16.60% in 2025.
The lowest interest payments to revenue in Namibia was 0.74% in 1992.
Namibia ranks 20th globally in interest payments to revenue as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Namibia's interest payments to revenue is projected to reach 16.60% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The interest payments to revenue of Namibia in 2025 was 16.60%. This ranks 20th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_namibia_interest-to-revenue,
title = {Namibia Interest Payments to Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/namibia/interest-to-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}