Ukraine's public debt rose to 78.5% of GDP in 2022 - MinFin

MOSCOW. April 20 (Interfax) - Ukraine's direct and guaranteed public debt grew $13.4 billion to 78.5% of GDP in 2022 from 48.9% in 2021, Ukrainian media reported, quoting the Finance Ministry's website.

The ministry said the situation in the country last year resulted in "nominal GDP falling to $161 billion and the ratio of direct public debt to GDP rising to 71.6%, from 43.3% in 2021."

The growth was driven by an increase "in debt received on preferential terms" by 50.4%, from $29.1 billion in 2021 to $43.9 billion in 2021.

According to data released earlier, public debt was $111.4 billion in 2022, with direct debt growing $15 billion to $101.6 billion and guaranteed debt declining $1.6 billion to $9.8 billion.

The baseline scenario in the IMF's Extended Fund Facility program envisaged Ukraine's public debt at 81.7% of GDP in 2022, rising to 98.3% in 2023 and peaking at 105% in 2024, then starting to decline gradually.