Viet Nam Short-term Debt
Short-term debt as % of total external debt DT.DOD.DSTC.ZS
Viet Nam's short-term debt was 29.31% in 2025, ranked 12th globally. This represents a 5.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2025.
Overview
Viet Nam's short-term debt stood at 29.31% in 2025, a rise of +1.41% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 29.31% by 2025. Viet Nam ranked 12th globally.
Vietnam’s short‑term external debt has risen sharply from a zero‑percent share of GDP in 1986, the all‑time trough, to 29.31 % in 2025, the highest level recorded over the 45‑year series and the twelfth‑largest share globally. This ascent reflects a gradual opening of the economy, expanding trade financing needs and the accumulation of short‑term liabilities to support rapid growth in recent decades. By contrast, peer economies such as Fiji stand at 29.26 % and South Africa at 28.43 % in the same year, indicating that Vietnam now clusters with other emerging markets that rely heavily on rolling short‑term financing. The peak of 29.31 % in 2025 follows a steady upward trajectory after the post‑reform period, suggesting that the country’s external financing structure remains tilted toward short‑term instruments. Continued fiscal consolidation, diversification of funding sources and a shift toward longer‑dated debt could moderate the upward path and reduce vulnerability to external liquidity shocks.
Data & projection
| Year | Short-term Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 32.45% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 30.88% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 29.31% | - | - |
| 2025 | 29.31% | +1.41% | #12 |
| 2024 | 27.90% | +3.15% | #106 |
| 2023 | 24.76% | −1.27% | #103 |
| 2022 | 26.02% | +2.26% | #109 |
| 2021 | 23.76% | +3.22% | #107 |
| 2020 | 20.55% | +0.63% | #100 |
| 2019 | 19.92% | +2.53% | #94 |
| 2018 | 17.39% | −2.54% | #93 |
| 2017 | 19.93% | +5.87% | #96 |
| 2016 | 14.06% | −0.60% | #80 |
| 2015 | 14.65% | −3.55% | #81 |
| 2014 | 18.20% | −0.17% | #88 |
| 2013 | 18.37% | −1.47% | #87 |
| 2012 | 19.84% | −0.01% | #88 |
| 2011 | 19.85% | +4.45% | #94 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Viet Nam matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2020. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw short-term debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Viet Nam's short-term debt was 29.31% in 2025. Ranked 12th globally. This represents a 5.0% increase from the previous year.
Viet Nam's short-term debt peaked at 29.31% in 2025.
The lowest short-term debt in Viet Nam was 0.00% in 1981.
Viet Nam ranks 12th globally in short-term debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DSTC.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Viet Nam's short-term debt is projected to reach 29.31% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The short-term debt of Viet Nam in 2025 was 29.31%. This ranks 12th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_viet-nam_short-term-debt,
title = {Viet Nam Short-term Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/viet-nam/short-term-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}