Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP) in Ghana
Ghana: Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP) was 3.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Net incurrence of liabilities, total in Ghana, 2003–2023
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net incurrence of liabilities, total in Ghana is 3.2%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 70.3% on the previous year and down 58.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net incurrence of liabilities, total in Ghana peaked at 11.6% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2005.
Ghana ranks 68th of 136 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2.9% | — |
| 2004 | 1.9% | -35.0% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | -58.4% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | +429.3% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | +40.5% |
| 2009 | 5.5% | -13.5% |
| 2010 | 6.3% | +15.7% |
| 2011 | 3.8% | -39.8% |
| 2012 | 11.6% | +204.6% |
| 2013 | 7.6% | -34.4% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -34.4% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | +32.8% |
| 2017 | 4.7% | -26.5% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | -18.8% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +25.2% |
| 2020 | 11.5% | +141.8% |
| 2021 | 9.2% | -19.9% |
| 2022 | 10.6% | +15.6% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -70.3% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 3.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.9%, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 3.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.9%, 81% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP) in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +429.3% | 0.8% | 4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.7% | 0.8% | 6.3% | 7 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 3.8% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.6% | 3.2% | 11.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More public sector data for Ghana
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.3195 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 37.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net incurrence of liabilities, total in Ghana?
- Net incurrence of liabilities, total in Ghana was 3.2% in 2023, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net incurrence of liabilities, total recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 11.6% in 2012.
- What is the lowest net incurrence of liabilities, total recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2005.
- How does Ghana rank for net incurrence of liabilities, total?
- Ghana ranks 68th out of 136 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net incurrence of liabilities, total rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net incurrence of government liabilities includes foreign financing (obtained from nonresidents) and domestic financing (obtained from residents), or the means by which a government provides financial resources to cover a budget deficit or allocates financial resources arising from a budget surplus. The net incurrence of liabilities should be offset by the net acquisition of financial assets. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.