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Nigeria Government Debt to GDP

General government gross debt as % of GDP  GGXWDG_NGDP

36.38% −2.95% (-7.5%)
Year 2025 Rank #137 Global Peak 53.23% (1991) Source IMF WEO

Nigeria Government Debt to GDP (1990–2025)

Overview

Nigeria's government debt to gdp stood at 36.38% in 2025, a decline of +2.95% from 2024. The IMF projects 36.38% by 2025. Nigeria ranked 137th globally.

Data & projection

Year Government Debt to GDP YoY change Rank
2030* IMF 33.76% - -
2029* IMF 34.08% - -
2028* IMF 34.42% - -
2027* IMF 35.27% - -
2026* IMF 35.03% - -
2025* IMF 36.38% - -
2025 36.38% −2.95% #137
2024 39.33% +3.00% #54
2023 36.34% +6.50% #44
2022 29.84% +3.21% #30
2021 26.62% +0.90% #25
2020 25.72% +4.28% #23
2019 21.44% +1.06% #21
2018 20.38% +2.37% #20
2017 18.01% +0.63% #12
2016 17.38% +2.45% #14
2015 14.93% +2.04% #15
2014 12.89% −0.09% #18
2013 12.99% +0.51% #21
2012 12.48% +0.10% #21
2011 12.38% +5.71% #19
Show all years (1990-2025)
* IMF World Economic Outlook projection

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +20.5% GDP growth 4.1% C/A balance 6.8%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Nigeria matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw government debt to gdp improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nigeria's government debt to gdp?

Nigeria's government debt to gdp was 36.38% in 2025. Ranked 137th globally. This represents a 7.5% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest government debt to gdp in Nigeria?

Nigeria's government debt to gdp peaked at 53.23% in 1991.

What was the lowest government debt to gdp in Nigeria?

The lowest government debt to gdp in Nigeria was 5.17% in 2008.

How does Nigeria rank in government debt to gdp?

Nigeria ranks 137th globally in government debt to gdp as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for government debt to gdp?

The World Bank indicator code is GGXWDG_NGDP. Data sourced from IMF WEO.

What is the projected government debt to gdp of Nigeria in 2025?

Nigeria's government debt to gdp is projected to reach 36.38% by 2025 based on IMF projection.

What is the government debt to gdp of Nigeria in 2025?

The government debt to gdp of Nigeria in 2025 was 36.38%. This ranks 137th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Nigeria Government Debt to GDP. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/nigeria/government-debt-to-gdp
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_government-debt-to-gdp, title = {Nigeria Government Debt to GDP}, url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/government-debt-to-gdp}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }