economy

Colombia's Public External Debt Reached US$157 Billion, Surpassing 34% of GDP

The Bank of the Republic revealed that Colombia's external debt stood at 55% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in February 2026, equivalent to US...

Colombia's Public External Debt Reached US$157 Billion, Surpassing 34% of GDP

TL;DR

  • Colombia's external debt was 55% of GDP (US$252.168 million) in February 2026.
  • This represents a slight decrease from January 2026 and a significant drop from February 2025 (59.3% of GDP).
  • Public sector external debt reached 34.3% of GDP (US$157.130 million), an increase from the previous year.
  • Private sector external debt was 20.7% of GDP (US$95.038 million).
  • Colombia is diversifying its debt away from the US dollar towards currencies like the euro and Swiss franc.
  • Increased external debt can limit fiscal spending on essential sectors and pressure the value of the dollar, affecting imported goods prices.