External Debt Reporting System (DRS)

The World Bank needs reliable and timely external debt information to assess a borrowing country's foreign debt situation, creditworthiness, and economic management; and conduct its country economic work and assess regional and global indebtedness and debt servicing problems.

DRS reporting requirements

Reporting countries receive a letter of request from the Bank and are provided a DRS manual.  As countries report their external debt data, the Debt Reporting System (DRS) database gets updated with the latest data.

Electronic submission

Reporters are encouraged to submit electronic forms.  Forms for new commitments, transactions and external private non-guaranteed debt are provided in EXCEL format.  The forms are machine readable.

Using electronic tools and paper submissions

Reporters also have the option to key in their data into a self-contained debt recording tool provided in EXCEL format.  Or to print out photo images of the forms and to manually fill them out.

When and where to report

Reporters using the electronic submission format and the debt recording tool format should email the forms. Reporters using the paper submission format need to send the forms by post.