KATHMANDU: During the fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal’s public debt rose by more than Rs 200 billion.

At the start of the last fiscal year, public debt was Rs 2.438 trillion, which increased to Rs 2.669 trillion by the end.

According to the Public Debt Management Office, public debt grew by Rs 231.08 billion in one year, reaching 43.71% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Internal debt stood at Rs 1.263 trillion, which is 22.14% of GDP, while external debt was Rs 1.401 trillion, or 24.56% of GDP.

The government had aimed to mobilize Rs 547 billion in public debt during the fiscal year but managed only Rs 455.39 billion by Asar end.

Specifically, Rs 329.99 billion was mobilized as internal debt and Rs 125.40 billion as external debt, both below their respective targets of Rs 330 billion and Rs 217 billion.

Meanwhile, the government repaid Rs 362.59 billion in debt during the fiscal year, for which it had allocated a budget of Rs 402.85 billion.