International debt issues to GDP (%) in Iceland
Iceland: International debt issues to GDP (%) was 61.8% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International debt issues to GDP in Iceland, 1980–2020
Source: Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international debt issues to gdp in Iceland is 61.8%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.9% on the previous year and down 79.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international debt issues to gdp in Iceland peaked at 389.1% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 1981.
Iceland ranks 23rd of 116 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International debt issues to GDP (%) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 9.3% | — |
| 1981 | 9.2% | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 10.7% | +16.1% |
| 1983 | 15.1% | +41.7% |
| 1984 | 13.2% | -12.4% |
| 1985 | 24.1% | +82.4% |
| 1986 | 27.9% | +15.5% |
| 1987 | 30.7% | +10.1% |
| 1988 | 29.7% | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 41.1% | +38.3% |
| 1990 | 44.0% | +7.1% |
| 1991 | 42.9% | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 46.5% | +8.4% |
| 1993 | 68.8% | +47.8% |
| 1994 | 74.0% | +7.6% |
| 1995 | 71.2% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 68.8% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 61.6% | -10.5% |
| 1998 | 68.8% | +11.6% |
| 1999 | 76.3% | +11.0% |
| 2000 | 95.5% | +25.2% |
| 2001 | 123.8% | +29.7% |
| 2002 | 127.1% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 151.6% | +19.2% |
| 2004 | 213.6% | +40.9% |
| 2005 | 255.0% | +19.4% |
| 2006 | 330.9% | +29.7% |
| 2007 | 310.1% | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 322.7% | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 389.1% | +20.6% |
| 2010 | 301.9% | -22.4% |
| 2011 | 229.5% | -24.0% |
| 2012 | 168.7% | -26.5% |
| 2013 | 130.7% | -22.5% |
| 2014 | 110.4% | -15.5% |
| 2015 | 91.9% | -16.7% |
| 2016 | 64.9% | -29.5% |
| 2017 | 64.5% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 58.1% | -9.9% |
| 2019 | 56.7% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 61.8% | +8.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 61.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 41.4%, 1.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 61.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 27.0%, 2.3× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.1% | 9.2% | 41.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 62.3% | 42.9% | 76.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 231.9% | 95.5% | 389.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 127.7% | 56.7% | 301.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.8% | 61.8% | 61.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More financial sector data for Iceland
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0025 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 243.62 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0018 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 177.89 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0025 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 243.62 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international debt issues to gdp in Iceland?
- International debt issues to gdp in Iceland was 61.8% in 2020, according to Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
- What is the highest international debt issues to gdp recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 389.1% in 2009.
- What is the lowest international debt issues to gdp recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 1981.
- How does Iceland rank for international debt issues to gdp?
- Iceland ranks 23rd out of 116 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international debt issues to gdp rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Bank for International Settlements (BIS), published as part of International debt issues to GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total value of outstanding international debt issues both public and private, as a share of GDP. Offshore bank loan data from BIS Statistical Appendix Table 12A (Amount Outstanding): International debt securities - all issuers.