National Debt (% of GDP): Afghanistan

Analysis# Afghanistan National Debt (% of GDP) Afghanistan's national debt stood at 8.8% of GDP in 2024, a remarkable recovery from its 346% peak in 2002 following the post-Taliban reconstruction period. The country has achieved a 97.5% reduction in its debt-to-GDP ratio over two decades, reaching its lowest point of 6.1% in 2019. Current levels remain substantially below both the historical peak and the early 2000s crisis, reflecting decades of fiscal consolidation. Recent volatility disrupted the downward trajectory, with debt spiking to 11.2% in 2021 during Afghanistan's political transition. The ratio has since stabilized, declining to 8.8% by 2024. This recovery suggests Afghanistan's economy is absorbing external pressures without dramatic debt accumulation, though sustained monitoring remains essential given the country's ongoing institutional challenges and economic fragility.