External Debt in Sri Lanka decreased to 56188.64 USD Million in the first quarter of 2025 from 57133.49 USD Million in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - Sri Lanka External Debt - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

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.

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;

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 July of 2025.

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 July of 2025.

External debt stocks, long-term (DOD, current US$) in Sri Lanka was reported at 51602903242 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - External debt stocks, long-term (DOD, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August 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.; ;

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: Stocks: Long-Term: Public Sector data was reported at 29.725 USD bn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 27.453 USD bn for 2015. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: Stocks: Long-Term: Public Sector data is updated yearly, averaging 5.920 USD bn from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.725 USD bn in 2016 and a record low of 313.859 USD mn in 1970. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: Stocks: Long-Term: Public Sector 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. Long-term public sector external debt conveys information about the distribution of long-term debt for DRS countries by type of debtor (central government, state and local government, central bank, public and mixed enterprises, and official development banks). Long-term external debt is defined as debt that has an original or extended maturity of more than one year and that is owed to nonresidents by residents of an economy and repayable in currency, goods, or services. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Sum;

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.

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Grant Element on New External Debt Commitments: Official data was reported at 53.419 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 56.443 % for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Grant Element on New External Debt Commitments: Official data is updated yearly, averaging 61.184 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75.392 % in 1989 and a record low of 47.080 % in 1998. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Grant Element on New External Debt Commitments: Official 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. The grant element of a loan is the grant equivalent expressed as a percentage of the amount committed. It is used as a measure of the overall cost of borrowing. To obtain the average, the grant elements for all public and publicly guaranteed loans have been weighted by the amounts of the loans. The grant equivalent of a loan is its commitment (present) value, less the discounted present value of its contractual debt service; conventionally, future service payments are discounted at 10 percent. Commitments cover the total amount of loans for which contracts were signed in the year specified. 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.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Weighted average;

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: PPG: Official Creditors data was reported at 18.897 USD bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 17.710 USD bn for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: PPG: Official Creditors data is updated yearly, averaging 5.817 USD bn from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.897 USD bn in 2017 and a record low of 255.317 USD mn in 1970. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: PPG: 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: Debt Outstanding, Debt Ratio and Debt Service. Public and publicly guaranteed 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;

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Grant Element on New External Debt Commitments data was reported at 36.705 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 39.965 % for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Grant Element on New External Debt Commitments data is updated yearly, averaging 48.872 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.307 % in 1990 and a record low of 24.516 % in 1982. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Grant Element on New External Debt Commitments 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. The grant element of a loan is the grant equivalent expressed as a percentage of the amount committed. It is used as a measure of the overall cost of borrowing. To obtain the average, the grant elements for all public and publicly guaranteed loans have been weighted by the amounts of the loans. The grant equivalent of a loan is its commitment (present) value, less the discounted present value of its contractual debt service; conventionally, future service payments are discounted at 10 percent. Commitments cover the total amount of loans for which contracts were signed in the year specified. Public debt is an external obligation of a public debtor, including the national government, a political subdivision (or an agency of either), and autonomous public bodies. Publicly guaranteed debt is an external obligation of a private debtor that is guaranteed for repayment by a public entity. Data for private nonguaranteed debt are not available.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Weighted average;

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.

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: NFL: Net Flows: Total data was reported at 2.612 USD bn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.204 USD bn for 2015. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: NFL: Net Flows: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 333.148 USD mn from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.201 USD bn in 2012 and a record low of -0.261 USD mn in 2000. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: NFL: Net Flows: Total 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: Net Flows and Net Transfers. Net flows on external debt are disbursements on long-term external debt and IMF purchases minus principal repayments on long-term external debt and IMF repurchases up to 1984. Beginning in 1985 this line includes the change in stock of short-term debt (including interest arrears for long-term debt). Thus, if the change in stock is positive, a disbursement is assumed to have taken place; if negative, a repayment is assumed to have taken place. Long-term external debt is defined as debt that has an original or extended maturity of more than one year and that is owed to nonresidents by residents of an economy and repayable in currency, goods, or services. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Sum;

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: PPG: Official Creditors: Multilateral data was reported at 7.826 USD bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.186 USD bn for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: PPG: Official Creditors: Multilateral data is updated yearly, averaging 2.509 USD bn from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.826 USD bn in 2017 and a record low of 29.132 USD mn in 1970. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: DOD: PPG: Official Creditors: Multilateral 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. Public and publicly guaranteed multilateral loans 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. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Sum;

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Interest on New External Debt Commitments: Official data was reported at 2.251 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.808 % for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Interest on New External Debt Commitments: Official data is updated yearly, averaging 2.063 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.427 % in 1998 and a record low of 1.223 % in 1989. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Average Interest on New External Debt Commitments: Official 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. Interest represents the average interest rate on all new public and publicly guaranteed loans contracted during the year. To obtain the average, the interest rates for all public and publicly guaranteed loans have been weighted by the amounts of the loans. 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.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Weighted average;

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Debt Service: % of Exports data was reported at 19.253 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 14.635 % for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Debt Service: % of Exports data is updated yearly, averaging 12.718 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2017, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.491 % in 1975 and a record low of 4.565 % in 2005. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Debt Service: % of Exports 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. Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and primary income); ; Debt service is the sum of principle repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services. This series differs from the standard debt to exports series. It covers only long-term public and publicly guaranteed debt and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF. Exports of goods and services include primary income, but do not include workers' remittances.; Weighted average;

Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Interest Payments: % of Exports of Goods, Services and Primary Income data was reported at 5.372 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.676 % for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Interest Payments: % of Exports of Goods, Services and Primary Income data is updated yearly, averaging 4.416 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2017, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.064 % in 1986 and a record low of 1.967 % in 2005. Sri Lanka LK: External Debt: Interest Payments: % of Exports of Goods, Services and Primary Income 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. Total interest payments to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total interest payment is the sum of interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and charges to the IMF.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Weighted average; The denominator for this indicator in previous versions of Global Development Finance included workers' remittances. Workers' remittances are no longer included.