PHNOM PENH, September 17, 2024 — Cambodia’s public debt reached US$11.27 billion by the end of the second quarter of this year, according to the Cambodia Public Debt Statistical Bulletin released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The bulletin revealed that 47 percent of the public debt is in U.S. dollars, while Special Drawing Rights (SDR) account for 19 percent, the Chinese yuan and Japanese yen each make up 11 percent, the euro 7 percent, and other currencies 5 percent.
Of the total debt, 99 percent, or US$11.16 billion, is external public debt, with the remainder classified as domestic public debt. The bulletin also noted that 63 percent of Cambodia’s public debt comes from bilateral development partners, while 37 percent is sourced from multilateral development partners.
In the first half of 2024, the Royal Government of Cambodia secured new concessional loans totaling US$313 million, or SDR 237 million, representing 14 percent of the debt ceiling permitted by law. The loans, which are highly concessional with an average grant element of 56 percent, are aimed at financing public investment projects in priority sectors to promote long-term sustainable economic growth and productivity.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance reiterated that Cambodia’s public debt remains "sustainable and at low risk." The bulletin also reported that the government has paid US$50 million in debt servicing for both external and domestic public debt.
