Nicaragua External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
Nicaragua's external debt was $16.1B in 2025, ranked 52nd globally. This represents a 3.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Nicaragua's external debt stood at $16.1B in 2025, a rise of +$589.8M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $16.1B by 2025. Nicaragua ranked 52nd globally.
Nicaragua’s external debt has risen dramatically over the 56‑year series, expanding from a trough of 242,870,748.60 in 1970 to an all‑time peak of 16,080,327,937.77 in 2025, placing the country 52nd globally (World Bank). The increase reflects successive fiscal deficits, reliance on external financing for infrastructure, and periodic macro‑economic shocks that have limited domestic savings. Compared with peers of similar ranking, Nicaragua’s debt level is slightly below Bolivia, Plurinational State’s 16,145,118,809.66 and marginally above Cameroon’s 15,914,990,436.69, indicating that its borrowing pattern aligns with other lower‑middle‑income economies that depend heavily on external sources. The steep upward trajectory, especially since the early 2000s, suggests heightened vulnerability to external interest‑rate shifts and currency fluctuations. Continued debt accumulation will hinge on the government’s ability to diversify revenue streams and attract stable investment; without such reforms, the upward trend is likely to persist.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $16.8B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $16.5B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $16.1B | - | - |
| 2025 | $16.1B | +$589.8M | #52 |
| 2024 | $15.5B | +$130.1M | #66 |
| 2023 | $15.4B | +$229.0M | #65 |
| 2022 | $15.1B | +$306.7M | #65 |
| 2021 | $14.8B | +$984.3M | #66 |
| 2020 | $13.8B | +$157.6M | #65 |
| 2019 | $13.7B | +$666.0M | #67 |
| 2018 | $13.0B | +$275.3M | #68 |
| 2017 | $12.7B | +$522.8M | #66 |
| 2016 | $12.2B | +$705.5M | #72 |
| 2015 | $11.5B | +$548.2M | #71 |
| 2014 | $11.0B | +$709.6M | #71 |
| 2013 | $10.3B | +$1.1B | #71 |
| 2012 | $9.2B | +$1.2B | #69 |
| 2011 | $7.9B | +$920.7M | #68 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nicaragua matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nicaragua's external debt was $16.1B in 2025. Ranked 52nd globally. This represents a 3.8% increase from the previous year.
Nicaragua's external debt peaked at $16.1B in 2025.
The lowest external debt in Nicaragua was $242.9M in 1970.
Nicaragua ranks 52nd globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nicaragua's external debt is projected to reach $16.1B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Nicaragua's external debt was approximately 16.08 billion ($16.1B) in 2025.
The external debt of Nicaragua in 2025 was $16.1B. This ranks 52nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nicaragua_external-debt,
title = {Nicaragua External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nicaragua/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}