Saudi Arabia Interest Payments to Revenue
Interest payments as % of revenue GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS
Saudi Arabia's interest payments to revenue was 3.33% in 2025, ranked 72nd globally. This represents a 5.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2010–2025.
Overview
Saudi Arabia's interest payments to revenue stood at 3.33% in 2025, a decline of +0.21pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.33% by 2025. Saudi Arabia ranked 72nd globally.
Saudi Arabia's interest payments to revenue have exhibited a notable fluctuation over the 16-year period from 2010 to 2025. The country's all-time peak of 3.54% in 2024, although not the highest globally, is a significant increase from its all-time trough of 0.34% in 2014. The steady rise in this ratio indicates a growing burden of debt servicing on the government's revenue. In comparison, Portugal, ranked 3.53% globally, has a similar interest payments to revenue ratio, suggesting that Saudi Arabia's fiscal situation is not entirely unique in the region. The latest available figure of 3.33% in 2025 indicates a slight decrease from the peak, but still remains a concern for the country's fiscal sustainability. A sustained decline in global oil prices, which currently account for a significant portion of Saudi Arabia's revenue, would likely exacerbate this trend and necessitate policy adjustments to mitigate the impact of interest payments on the government's revenue.
Data & projection
| Year | Interest Payments to Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 3.55% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 3.44% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 3.33% | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.33% | −0.21pp | #72 |
| 2024 | 3.54% | +0.42pp | #8 |
| 2023 | 3.12% | +0.73pp | #32 |
| 2022 | 2.39% | −0.45pp | #29 |
| 2021 | 2.84% | −0.29pp | #37 |
| 2020 | 3.13% | +0.85pp | #43 |
| 2019 | 2.28% | +0.62pp | #33 |
| 2018 | 1.66% | +0.35pp | #18 |
| 2017 | 1.31% | +0.35pp | #16 |
| 2016 | 0.95% | +0.53pp | #14 |
| 2015 | 0.43% | +0.09pp | #8 |
| 2014 | 0.34% | −0.06pp | #6 |
| 2013 | 0.40% | −0.09pp | #6 |
| 2012 | 0.49% | −0.21pp | #9 |
| 2011 | 0.70% | −0.77pp | #8 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Saudi Arabia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw interest payments to revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia's interest payments to revenue was 3.33% in 2025. Ranked 72nd globally. This represents a 5.8% decrease from the previous year.
Saudi Arabia's interest payments to revenue peaked at 3.54% in 2024.
The lowest interest payments to revenue in Saudi Arabia was 0.34% in 2014.
Saudi Arabia ranks 72nd 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.
Saudi Arabia's interest payments to revenue is projected to reach 3.33% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The interest payments to revenue of Saudi Arabia in 2025 was 3.33%. This ranks 72nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_saudi-arabia_interest-to-revenue,
title = {Saudi Arabia Interest Payments to Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/saudi-arabia/interest-to-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}