Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -2.5% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
-2.5%
Change on year
up 37.1%
Rank
7th
of 24 groups
All-time high
1.3%
in 2012
All-time low
-3.9%
in 2020
Years of data
12
2009–2021

Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Least developed countries, 2009–2021

-4-2022009201520212009: -3.3 % of GDP2010: -0.257 % of GDP2012: 1.3 % of GDP2013: -0.81 % of GDP2014: -2.4 % of GDP2015: -2.6 % of GDP2016: -2.6 % of GDP2017: -3.4 % of GDP2018: -2.1 % of GDP2019: -2.6 % of GDP2020: -3.9 % of GDP2021: -2.5 % of GDP

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

The most recent figure for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Least developed countries is -2.5%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 37.1% on the previous year and down 864.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Least developed countries peaked at 1.3% in 2012 and was at its lowest, -3.9%, in 2020.

That places Least developed countries 7th out of 24 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Least developed countries, year by year

Annual values for Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) in Least developed countries, 2009 to 2021.
Year % of GDP Change
2009 -3.3%
2010 -0.3% -92.1%
2012 1.3% -588.0%
2013 -0.8% -164.7%
2014 -2.4% +201.8%
2015 -2.6% +4.8%
2016 -2.6% -0.4%
2017 -3.4% +33.0%
2018 -2.1% -38.6%
2019 -2.6% +22.8%
2020 -3.9% +53.7%
2021 -2.5% -37.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s -3.3% -3.3% -3.3% 1
2010s -1.7% -3.4% 1.3% 9
2020s -3.2% -3.9% -2.5% 2

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 4 Lesotho 7.2% compare
  2. 5 Seychelles 7.2%
  3. 6 Macau, China 7.0% compare
  4. 7 Micronesia, Federated States of 6.9% compare
  5. 8 Tonga 5.3% compare
  6. 9 Marshall Islands 5.0% compare
  7. 10 Ireland 4.4% compare

See the full ranking of 182 places →

More public sector data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Least developed countries?
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Least developed countries was -2.5% in 2021, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 1.3% in 2012.
What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was -3.9% in 2020.
How does Least developed countries rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
Least developed countries ranks 7th out of 24 groups with data for 2021.
Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is down 864.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/net-lending-net-borrowing-percent-of-gdp/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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About this data

Indicator
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
182 places, 5,229 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. 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.