National Debt (% of GDP): Sri Lanka

Analysis# Sri Lanka National Debt (% of GDP) Sri Lanka's national debt reached 100.8% of GDP in 2024, down from its peak of 115.9% in 2022 but significantly higher than the 67.5% low recorded in 2012. Over the full 1990–2024 period, debt has increased 27.8 percentage points, reflecting a substantial long-term rise in the country's debt burden relative to economic output. The most dramatic shift occurred between 2019 and 2022, when debt surged from 82.6% to 115.9%—a sharp 33.3-point jump driven by economic crisis and currency collapse. Recent data from 2023–2024 shows improvement, with debt declining 15.1 points from its peak. This downward trajectory suggests stabilization efforts are gaining traction, though the 100.8% current level remains historically elevated and warrants continued monitoring.