Tuesday, 24 March 2026
The Czech Republic’s external debt reached approximately CZK 5.683 trillion at the end of 2025, according to preliminary data published by the Czech National Bank. The figure represents a year-on-year increase of around CZK 423 billion and corresponds to 66.5% of the country’s gross domestic product.
The increase continued in the final quarter of the year, with external debt rising by approximately CZK 127 billion. The data reflects ongoing financing activity across both the banking sector and corporate entities.
The structure of the country’s external liabilities remains largely stable, with the private sector accounting for around 76.5% of total debt. The banking sector represents the largest individual share, followed by other corporate entities, while the general government accounts for a smaller proportion.
“In the structure of foreign debt according to the instruments, the most widespread forms of debt financing are deposits from non-residents and loans from foreign parent, sister and subsidiaries,” the Czech National Bank stated.
A significant share of the debt is linked to intercompany financing within multinational groups, reflecting the strong presence of foreign investment in the Czech economy. This type of financing is generally considered more stable than sovereign borrowing.
In terms of maturity, liabilities with an original maturity of more than one year account for just over half of total external debt, indicating a relatively balanced structure between short- and long-term obligations.
While the overall level of external debt has increased, its composition suggests that much of the exposure is tied to corporate activity rather than public sector borrowing.
