Papua New Guinea External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
Papua New Guinea's external debt was $12.8B in 2025, ranked 63rd globally. This represents a 0.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Papua New Guinea's external debt stood at $12.8B in 2025, a decline of +$97.6M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $12.8B by 2025. Papua New Guinea ranked 63rd globally.
Papua New Guinea's external debt has exhibited significant fluctuations over the past five and a half decades. At 12,756,535,969.21 in 2025, the country ranks sixty-third globally. This value is a considerable decrease from the all-time peak of 21,609,688,423.60 in 2013, indicating a downward trend in recent years. Conversely, the country's external debt has only reached its all-time trough once, at 208,775,480.00 in 1970. A comparison with peer countries reveals Papua New Guinea's debt levels are comparable to those of Azerbaijan, another country with a significant decline in external debt in recent years. The Democratic Republic of Congo, on the other hand, has a substantially higher external debt. The downward trend in Papua New Guinea's external debt may continue if the country maintains its current economic trajectory and avoids significant shocks to its financial system.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $9.8B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $11.3B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $12.8B | - | - |
| 2025 | $12.8B | −$97.6M | #63 |
| 2024 | $12.9B | −$2.6B | #59 |
| 2023 | $15.5B | −$4.1B | #68 |
| 2022 | $19.6B | −$105.2M | #72 |
| 2021 | $19.7B | +$1.7B | #72 |
| 2020 | $18.0B | −$697.8M | #73 |
| 2019 | $18.7B | +$1.0B | #75 |
| 2018 | $17.7B | +$499.9M | #78 |
| 2017 | $17.2B | −$2.0B | #80 |
| 2016 | $19.2B | −$1.1B | #81 |
| 2015 | $20.4B | −$42.0M | #85 |
| 2014 | $20.4B | −$1.2B | #83 |
| 2013 | $21.6B | +$6.7B | #85 |
| 2012 | $14.9B | +$2.3B | #81 |
| 2011 | $12.6B | +$6.6B | #77 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Papua New Guinea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Papua New Guinea's external debt was $12.8B in 2025. Ranked 63rd globally. This represents a 0.8% decrease from the previous year.
Papua New Guinea's external debt peaked at $21.6B in 2013.
The lowest external debt in Papua New Guinea was $208.8M in 1970.
Papua New Guinea ranks 63rd globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Papua New Guinea's external debt is projected to reach $12.8B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Papua New Guinea's external debt was approximately 12.76 billion ($12.8B) in 2025.
The external debt of Papua New Guinea in 2025 was $12.8B. This ranks 63rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_papua-new-guinea_external-debt,
title = {Papua New Guinea External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/papua-new-guinea/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}