The national debt of Sri Lanka was estimated at approximately ************* U.S. dollars in 2024. Between 1990 and 2024, the national debt rose by around ************* U.S. dollars, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

External Debt in Sri Lanka decreased to 56068.83 USD Million in the second quarter of 2025 from 56243.96 USD Million in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - Sri Lanka External Debt - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about Sri Lanka Government Debt: % of GDP

• Sri Lanka Government debt accounted for 96.9 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 98.0 % in the previous quarter.
• Sri Lanka government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2014 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 120.9 % in Jun 2022 and a record low of 72.0 % in Mar 2018.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka provides Government Debt in local currency. The Department of Census and Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency. Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP prior to Q4 2015 is calculated from Nominal GDP based on old methodology.


Related information about Sri Lanka Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, Sri Lanka National Government Debt reached 96.5 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 20.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Sri Lanka recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 96.10 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Sri Lanka Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The ratio of national debt to gross domestic product (GDP) of Sri Lanka was estimated at approximately 99.43 percent in 2024. Between 1990 and 2024, the ratio rose by around 20.49 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.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 Sri Lanka External Debt: % of GDP

• Sri Lanka External Debt accounted for 75.0 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2022, compared with the ratio of 58.9 % in the previous year.
• Sri Lanka External Debt: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1998 to Dec 2022.
• The data reached an all-time high of 75.0 % in Dec 2022 and a record low of 38.8 % in Dec 2008.

CEIC calculates External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from annual External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka provides External Debt in local currency based on BPM6. The Department of Census and Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency based on SNA 2008. External Debt as % of Nominal GDP prior to 2011 is calculated from External Debt based on BPM5 and Nominal GDP based on SNA 1993. External Debt as % of Nominal GDP prior to 2002 is calculated from Nominal GDP based on SNA 1968.


Related information about Sri Lanka External Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of Sri Lanka, Current Account recorded a surplus of 303.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 45.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Sri Lanka Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 7.2 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 146.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• The country's External Debt reached 56,594.5 in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 20.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Key information about Sri Lanka External Debt

• Sri Lanka External Debt reached 56.6 USD bn in Sep 2024, compared with 55.9 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• Sri Lanka External Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Dec 2012 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 56.6 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 37.1 USD bn in Dec 2012.

Related information about Sri Lanka External Debt

• In the latest reports of Sri Lanka, Current Account recorded a surplus of 303.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 45.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Sri Lanka Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 7.2 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 146.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 20.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Key information about Sri Lanka National Government Debt

• Sri Lanka National Government Debt reached 96.5 USD bn in Sep 2024, compared with 92.7 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• Sri Lanka National Government Debt data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2014 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 96.5 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 55.0 USD bn in Mar 2014.

CEIC converts quarterly Government Debt into USD. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka provides Government Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Related information about Sri Lanka National Government Debt

• In the latest reports, Sri Lanka Consolidated Fiscal Balance recorded a deficit equal to 5.6 % of its Nominal GDP in Sep 2024.
• The country's Government debt accounted for 96.9 % of its Nominal GDP in Sep 2024.
• Sri Lanka Nominal GDP reached 20.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) in Sri Lanka was reported at 2825291973 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Key information about Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term

• Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term value stood at 5.2 USD bn in Sep 2024, compared with 5.1 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term data is updated quarterly, available from Dec 2012 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 9.2 USD bn in Sep 2021 and a record low of 5.0 USD bn in Dec 2023.

CEIC calculates Short Term External Debt as the sum of quarterly Short Term External Debt breakdowns for General Government, Central Bank, Deposit Taking Corporations and Other Sectors. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka provides Short Term External Debt in USD.


Related information about Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term

• In the latest reports of Sri Lanka, Current Account recorded a surplus of 303.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 45.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Sri Lanka Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 7.2 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 146.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 20.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (TDS, current US$) in Sri Lanka was reported at 1545697904 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (TDS, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Present Value: % of GNI data was reported at 36.583 % in 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Present Value: % of GNI data is updated yearly, averaging 36.583 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Present Value: % of GNI data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank: External Debt: Debt Outstanding, Debt Ratio and Debt Service. Present value of debt is the sum of short-term external debt plus the discounted sum of total debt service payments due on public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term external debt over the life of existing loans. The GNI denominator is a three-year average.; ; World Bank, Global Development Finance.; ;

External debt stocks, short-term (DOD, current US$) in Sri Lanka was reported at 7249294945 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - External debt stocks, short-term (DOD, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Government Debt in Sri Lanka increased to 29634781 LKR Million in the second quarter of 2025 from 29253167 LKR Million in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - Sri Lanka Government Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Present Value data was reported at 30.467 USD bn in 2017. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Present Value data is updated yearly, averaging 30.467 USD bn from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Present Value data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank.WDI: External Debt: Debt Outstanding, Debt Ratio and Debt Service. Present value of debt is the sum of short-term external debt plus the discounted sum of total debt service payments due on public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term external debt over the life of existing loans. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Sum;

Present value of external debt (current US$) in Sri Lanka was reported at 42198486929 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Present value of external debt - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Key information about Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP

• Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term accounted for 11.5 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2022, compared with the ratio of 9.6 % in the previous year.
• Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from 1998 to 2022.
• The data reached an all-time high of 11.5 % in 2022 and a record low of 2.3 % in 2006.

CEIC calculates Short Term External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from annual Short Term External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. Short Term External Debt is calculated as the sum of Short Term External Debt breakdowns for General Government, Central Bank, Deposit Taking Corporations and Other Sectors. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka provides Short Term External Debt in local currency based on BPM6. The Department of Census and Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency based on SNA 2008. Short Term External Debt as % of Nominal GDP prior to 2011 is calculated from Short Term External Debt based on BPM5 and Nominal GDP based on SNA 1993. Short Term External Debt as % of Nominal GDP prior to 2002 is calculated from Nominal GDP based on SNA 1968.


Related information about Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of Sri Lanka, Current Account recorded a surplus of 303.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 45.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Sri Lanka Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 7.2 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 146.0 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Sri Lanka External Debt: Short Term value stood at 5.2 USD bn in Dec 2022.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 20.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

External debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (PNG) (DOD, current US$) in Sri Lanka was reported at 10220487000 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - External debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (PNG) (DOD, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: UND: Undisbursed: Official Creditors data was reported at 9.986 USD bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.184 USD bn for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: UND: Undisbursed: Official Creditors data is updated yearly, averaging 2.363 USD bn from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.986 USD bn in 2017 and a record low of 205.356 USD mn in 1971. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: UND: Undisbursed: Official Creditors data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank.WDI: External Debt: Terms and Undisbursed Debt. Undisbursed debt is the total public and publicly guaranteed debt undrawn at year end; data for private nonguaranteed debt are not available. Debt from official creditors includes loans from international organizations (multilateral loans) and loans from governments (bilateral loans). Loans from international organization include loans and credits from the World Bank, regional development banks, and other multilateral and intergovernmental agencies. Excluded are loans from funds administered by an international organization on behalf of a single donor government; these are classified as loans from governments. Government loans include loans from governments and their agencies (including central banks), loans from autonomous bodies, and direct loans from official export credit agencies. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Sum;

External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, current US$) in Sri Lanka was reported at 41382416242 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.