Ghana vs South Sudan: Government debt
Government debt in 2025: 48.8% of GDP in Ghana and 64.2% of GDP in South Sudan, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in South Sudan, by 15.4 percentage points, or 1.32 times that in Ghana.
GhanaSouth Sudan
Watch it change on the map% of GDP · IMF
Latest figures
% of GDP · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana | 48.8 2025 | 53.9 | 84 of 149 | 47.3 2031 |
| South Sudan | 64.2 2025 | 58.2 | 49 of 149 | 46.3 2031 |
What the numbers say
- South Sudan has been higher since 2025, when it overtook Ghana.
- In 2025, Ghana ranked 84 and South Sudan ranked 49 of 149 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Ghana at 47.3% of GDP and South Sudan at 46.3% of GDP in 2031.
Every year
% of GDP · IMF
| Year | Ghana | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48.8 | 64.2 |
| 2024 | 70.1 | 53.7 |
| 2023 | 79.1 | 60.7 |
| 2022 | 92.7 | 42.2 |
| 2021 | 86.9 | 56.4 |
| 2020 | 79.1 | 48.3 |
| 2019 | 62.9 | 43.4 |
| 2018 | 62 | 84.3 |
| 2017 | 57 | 77.5 |
| 2016 | 55.9 | 128.9 |
| 2015 | 53.9 | 58.2 |
| 2014 | 50.1 | 39.6 |
| 2013 | 42.9 | 17.6 |
| 2012 | 35.5 | 8.9 |
| 2011 | 31.2 | – |
| 2010 | 32.9 | – |
| 2009 | 25.4 | – |
| 2008 | 23.2 | – |
| 2007 | 21.1 | – |
| 2006 | 17.3 | – |
| 2005 | 31.7 | – |
| 2004 | 38.4 | – |
| 2003 | 49.3 | – |
| 2002 | 54.1 | – |
| 2001 | 57.8 | – |
| 2000 | 74.5 | – |
| 1999 | 51.7 | – |
| 1998 | 37.6 | – |
| 1997 | 45.2 | – |
| 1996 | 42.9 | – |
| 1995 | 47.6 | – |
| 1994 | 50.6 | – |
| 1993 | 34.1 | – |
| 1992 | 21.3 | – |
| 1991 | 17.3 | – |
| 1990 | 17.8 | – |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | Ghana | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 51.7 | 43.2 |
| 2027 | 50.8 | 43 |
| 2028 | 49.7 | 44.4 |
| 2029 | 49 | 45.4 |
| 2030 | 48.2 | 45.7 |
| 2031 | 47.3 | 46.3 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the government owes, as a share of the economy’s yearly output.
- Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
- The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 149 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time