Skopje, 29 March 2024 (MIA) - The net external debt by the end of 2023 amounted to EUR 4,458 million or 32.6 percent of the estimated GDP, the National Bank said on Friday.

In the fourth quarter, the net external debt increased by EUR 305 million or 7.3 percent.

At the end of the fourth quarter 2023, the gross external debt amounted to Euro 11,463 million (or 83.9% of the estimated GDP for 2023) which is a quarterly increase of Euro 386 million, while gross external claims rose by Euro 81 million to Euro 7,004 million (or 51.3% of the estimated GDP). The larger quarterly increase in liabilities against claims led to a growth of the net external debt by Euro 305 million, and at the end of December 2023 it amounted to Euro 4,458 million (or 32.6% of the estimated GDP), reads the press release.

Compared to the end of 2022, the net external debt increased by Euro 147 million (or 3.4%), given the rise of the net private debt (of Euro 269 million) and a fall in the net public debt (of
Euro 122 million).

Photo: National Bank