The ratio of national debt to gross domestic product (GDP) of Pakistan amounted to approximately 70.07 percent in 2024. Between 1994 and 2024, the ratio rose by around 11.54 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The ratio is forecast to decline by about 9.02 percentage points from 2024 to 2030, fluctuating as it trends downward.The general government gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future. Here it is depicted in relation to the country's GDP, which refers to the total value of goods and services produced during a year.

Key information about Pakistan External Debt: % of GDP

• Pakistan External Debt accounted for 35.1 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2024, compared with the ratio of 37.3 % in the previous year.
• Pakistan External Debt: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from Jun 2000 to Jun 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 37.6 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 21.7 % in Jun 2015.

CEIC calculates External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from annual External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. The State Bank of Pakistan provides External Debt in USD. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency. The State Bank of Pakistan average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. External Debt as % of Nominal GDP is in annual frequency, ending in June of each year.


Related information about Pakistan External Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of Pakistan, Current Account recorded a deficit of 131.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 219.2 USD mn in Nov 2024.
• Pakistan Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 1.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 133.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• The country's External Debt reached 133,455.2 in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 341.3 USD bn in Jun 2023.

Historical chart and dataset showing Pakistan debt to gdp ratio by year from 1990 to 2000.

Key information about Pakistan Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP

• Pakistan Private Debt accounted for 8.02 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with a ratio of 9.49 % in the previous year
• Pakistan Private Debt contribution to Nominal GDP ratio is updated yearly, available from Dec 2005 to Dec 2024, with an average share of 12.38 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 19.93 % in Dec 2008 and a record low of 8.02 % in Dec 2024

CEIC shifts year-end for annual Private Debt as % of Nominal GDP. CEIC calculates annual Private Debt as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Private Debt and annual Nominal GDP. Private Debt is calculated as the sum of Advances to Private Sector, Trust Fund, Personal and Others. The State Bank of Pakistan provides Private Debt in local currency. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency. Nominal GDP is reported in annual frequency, ending in June of each year.

Pakistan: Government debt as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 74.3 percent, an increase from 73.9 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 61.85 percent, based on data from 137 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 1997 to 2023 is 72.66 percent. The minimum value, 57.9 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 99.8 percent was recorded in 1999.

This dataset provides values for GOVERNMENT DEBT TO GDP reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Pakistan Debt Servicing: MF: As % of GDP: Debt Servicing data was reported at 5.900 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.500 % for 2016. Pakistan Debt Servicing: MF: As % of GDP: Debt Servicing data is updated yearly, averaging 6.300 % from Jun 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.700 % in 1999 and a record low of 4.200 % in 2006. Pakistan Debt Servicing: MF: As % of GDP: Debt Servicing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.F020: Debt Servicing.

Key information about Pakistan External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP

• Pakistan External Debt: Short Term accounted for 0.9 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2024, compared with the ratio of 0.9 % in the previous year.
• Pakistan External Debt: Short Term: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from 2006 to 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 1.6 % in 2020 and a record low of 0.0 % in 2007.

CEIC calculates Short Term External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Short Term External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. Short Term External Debt is calculated as the sum of the Short Term External Debt breakdowns for Government Debt, Public Sector Enterprises Non Guaranteed Debt and Scheduled Banks Borrowing. The State Bank of Pakistan provides Short Term External Debt in USD. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency. The State Bank of Pakistan average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Short Term External Debt as % of Nominal GDP is in annual frequency, ending in June of each year.


Related information about Pakistan External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of Pakistan, Current Account recorded a deficit of 131.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 219.2 USD mn in Nov 2024.
• Pakistan Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 1.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 133.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Pakistan External Debt: Short Term value stood at 3.5 USD bn in Jun 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 341.3 USD bn in Jun 2023.

India recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 81.59 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2023. This dataset provides - India Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Pakistan Debt Servicing: MF: As % of GDP: Interest on Domestic Debt, Federal data was reported at 3.800 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.000 % for 2016. Pakistan Debt Servicing: MF: As % of GDP: Interest on Domestic Debt, Federal data is updated yearly, averaging 4.200 % from Jun 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.300 % in 1998 and a record low of 2.400 % in 2006. Pakistan Debt Servicing: MF: As % of GDP: Interest on Domestic Debt, Federal data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.F020: Debt Servicing.

Government Debt in Pakistan increased to 74936 PKR Billion in April from 73688 PKR Billion in March of 2025. This dataset provides - Pakistan Government Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about Pakistan External Debt

• Pakistan External Debt reached 131.1 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with 133.7 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• Pakistan External Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Jun 2006 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 133.7 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 37.2 USD bn in Jun 2006.

Related information about Pakistan External Debt

• In the latest reports of Pakistan, Current Account recorded a surplus of 1.5 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 169.8 USD mn in Dec 2024.
• Pakistan Direct Investment Abroad fell by 9.0 USD mn in Dec 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment fell by 213.0 USD mn in Dec 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 341.3 USD bn in Jun 2023.

International debt issues to GDP (%) in Pakistan was reported at 2.3892 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - International debt issues to GDP - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

This scatter chart displays central government debt (% of GDP) against rural population (people) in Pakistan. The data is about countries per year.

This scatter chart displays self-employed workers (% of total employment) against central government debt (% of GDP) in Pakistan. The data is about countries per year.

Pakistan PK: General Government: Net Debt: % of GDP data was reported at 73.405 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 72.273 % for 2022. Pakistan PK: General Government: Net Debt: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 60.130 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2023, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 78.336 % in 2001 and a record low of 46.953 % in 2007. Pakistan PK: General Government: Net Debt: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.IMF.FM: Government Finance Statistics.

Outstanding international private debt securities to GDP (%) in Pakistan was reported at 0.75848 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Outstanding international private debt securities to GDP - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2018, the estimated average inflation rate in Pakistan amounted to about 3.93 percent compared to the previous year, a slight drop from 2017, but an ever sharper one compared to four years earlier. Over the next few years, forecasts estimate it to level off at around 6.5 percent.

Pakistan‘s more or less fragile economy

Pakistan is one of the most populous countries in the worldwith a large Muslim population and a rather low urbanization rate, which means that the majority of Pakistanis live in rural areas. However, the majority of the country's GDP is generated by the services sector, which also employs most of the workforce. As of now, Pakistan’s economic growth seems stable, but that wasn’t always the case.

Stable growth ahead?

Like many others, Pakistan’s economy suffered during the 2009 financial crisis, and while it has recovered today, inflation was still over 10 percent in 2012. GDP slumped during that time as well, but now, ten years later, it has almost tripled and seems to be on an upward trend. Although its GDP generation now mainly relies on services, Pakistan still exports agricultural goods like cotton. However, the country still struggles with an increasing trade deficit and thus rising national debt – two factors that could hinder economic growth in the future.