Uganda External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
Uganda's external debt was $21.6B in 2025, ranked 47th globally. This represents a 5.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Uganda's external debt stood at $21.6B in 2025, a rise of +$1.1B from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $21.6B by 2025. Uganda ranked 47th globally.
Uganda’s external debt has risen dramatically over the 56‑year series, expanding from a trough of 151,676,389.30 in 1970 to an all‑time peak of 21,630,363,887.13 in 2025, placing the country 47th globally among World Bank‑tracked economies. The acceleration accelerated in the 2000s as the government tapped multilateral and bilateral lenders to finance infrastructure, a pattern that mirrors the debt trajectories of Sudan (21,572,658,103.81) and Mauritius (22,930,668,314.41), its closest peers in the ranking. While the absolute level remains lower than Cambodia’s 23,500,879,070.79, the rate of increase outpaces many regional counterparts, reflecting both higher borrowing capacity and growing fiscal deficits. Continued reliance on external financing to fund development projects suggests that, absent substantial fiscal consolidation or a shift toward domestic resource mobilization, Uganda’s external debt is likely to maintain its upward trajectory in the near term.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $22.7B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $22.2B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $21.6B | - | - |
| 2025 | $21.6B | +$1.1B | #47 |
| 2024 | $20.5B | +$249.6M | #73 |
| 2023 | $20.3B | −$756.3M | #73 |
| 2022 | $21.0B | +$370.0M | #73 |
| 2021 | $20.7B | +$3.0B | #75 |
| 2020 | $17.7B | +$3.7B | #72 |
| 2019 | $14.0B | +$1.7B | #68 |
| 2018 | $12.3B | +$648.5M | #65 |
| 2017 | $11.7B | +$1.6B | #65 |
| 2016 | $10.1B | +$517.5M | #63 |
| 2015 | $9.6B | +$919.3M | #63 |
| 2014 | $8.7B | +$91.5M | #62 |
| 2013 | $8.6B | +$4.8B | #64 |
| 2012 | $3.8B | +$513.5M | #44 |
| 2011 | $3.3B | +$288.0M | #44 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Uganda matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2011. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Uganda's external debt was $21.6B in 2025. Ranked 47th globally. This represents a 5.3% increase from the previous year.
Uganda's external debt peaked at $21.6B in 2025.
The lowest external debt in Uganda was $151.7M in 1970.
Uganda ranks 47th globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Uganda's external debt is projected to reach $21.6B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Uganda's external debt was approximately 21.63 billion ($21.6B) in 2025.
The external debt of Uganda in 2025 was $21.6B. This ranks 47th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_uganda_external-debt,
title = {Uganda External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/uganda/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}