Domestic public debt increased by 19.9% in 2021, while external debt decreased by 1.9%

February 1, BPN. The national debt of Belarus totaled BYN 58.3 billion as of January 1, 2022, increasing by BYN 0.5 billion, or 0.9%, compared to the beginning of 2021, the Ministry of Finance reported.

As of January 1, 2022, the external public debt amounted to USD 18.2 billion, a decrease by USD 0.4 billion (including exchange rate differences) or 1.9% over the past year.

Last year, external loans amounted to the equivalent of USD 1,273.1 million and the repayment of the external debt amounted to USD 1,609 million.

As of January 1, 2022, domestic public debt stood at BYN 11.8 billion, an increase of BYN 2 billion (including exchange rate differences), or 19.9% over the past year.

In 2021, the equivalent of USD 1 billion 237.8 million and BYN 191 million worth of domestic currency and BYN-denominated government bonds for legal entities and individuals were placed. Foreign currency and BYN-denominated government bonds for legal entities and individuals were redeemed in an amount equivalent to USD 333.1 million and BYN 145 million.

This year, BYN 6 billion 936.3 million is to be spent on repaying the national debt and BYN 3 billion 522.4 million on servicing it.