Lebanon vs Syria

Lebanon vs Syria: Government debt

Government debt: 357.5% of GDP in Lebanon in 2021 and 31.2% of GDP in Syria in 2009, by IMF estimates. In 2009 the value was higher in Lebanon, by 113.3 percentage points, or 4.63 times that in Syria.

Watch it change on the map

% of GDP · IMF

Lebanon vs Syria: Government debtGovernment debt: 357.5% of GDP in Lebanon in 2021 and 31.2% of GDP in Syria in 2009, by IMF estimates. In 2009 the value was higher in Lebanon, by 113.3 percentage points, or 4.63 times that in Syria.
LebanonSyriaIMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026)

What the numbers say

  • Lebanon has been higher since 2001, when it overtook Syria.
  • The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Lebanon at 139.4% of GDP in 2025.
  • The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Syria at 30% of GDP in 2010.

Every year

% of GDP · IMF

YearLebanonSyria
2021357.5–
2020158.1–
2019171.9–
2018154–
2017150.4–
2016147.9–
2015140.9–
2014138.5–
2013135.4–
2012131.1–
2011134.4–
2010136.830
2009144.531.2
2008161.537.3
2007169.342.7
2006183.345
2005178.950.7
2004169.5113
2003171.3133.4
2002163.1132.4
2001163.1144.5
2000148.1152.1
1999–147.7
1998–151.2
1997–147.6
1996–141.5
1995–152.6
1994–163
1993–171.9
1992–173.6
1991–182.4
1990–189.8
  • 12.3Projected
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2022–2025
YearLebanonSyria
2022260.3–
2023175.6–
2024152–
2025139.4–

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.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

Lebanon vs Syria

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