OREANDA-NEWS The level of Russian external debt to GDP in the second quarter fell below 15% for the first time in history. Per capita, the indicator fell to $2.3 thousand, the lowest level since 2006.

According to the results of the second quarter, the external debt amounted to $343.4 billion (about 29.9 trillion rubles) or 14.96% of Russia's GDP, RIA Novosti reports. The agency cites calculations according to the Central Bank for the second quarter, but it is already known that in the third quarter the external debt decreased by another 4%, to $ 329.5 billion. Since the beginning of the year, the indicator has fallen by 14.1%.

The central Bank last explained the reduction in external debt "by a decrease in the dollar equivalent of liabilities due to the weakening of the national currency against the US dollar, as well as a decrease in the volume of Russian sovereign securities at the disposal of non-residents, including as a result of their planned repayment."

Russia's external debt has been declining for the past few years. So, in 2020 it was 31% of GDP, in 2021 - 26.2% of GDP, in 2022 - 16.6% of GDP.