Sovereign Credit Ratings
Country | Moody's | S&P | Fitch | DBRS | Scope Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aa3 Positive | AA- Positive | AA- Positive | AA (low) Positive | AA Stable |
Latest Credit Changes
Country | Date of Change | Rating Agency | Previous Rating | Previous Outlook | Current Rating | Current Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2024 | Scope Ratings | AA- | Positive | AA | Stable | |
| Aug 16, 2024 | Moody's | A3 | Stable | Aa3 | Positive | |
| Mar 22, 2024 | DBRS | AA (low) | Stable | AA (low) | Positive | |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Fitch | A+ | Stable | AA- | Positive | |
| Apr 21, 2023 | Moody's | A2 | Positive | A3 | Stable | |
| Mar 31, 2023 | Scope Ratings | AA- | Stable | AA- | Positive | |
| Nov 18, 2022 | S&P | AA- | Stable | AA- | Positive | |
| Jan 14, 2022 | DBRS | A (high) | Positive | AA (low) | Stable | |
| Aug 13, 2021 | Moody's | A2 | Stable | A2 | Positive | |
| Jul 16, 2021 | DBRS | A (high) | Stable | A (high) | Positive | |
| May 21, 2021 | Scope Ratings | A+ | Positive | AA- | Stable | |
| May 15, 2020 | DBRS | A (high) | Positive | A (high) | Stable | |
| Jan 31, 2020 | DBRS | A (high) | Stable | A (high) | Positive | |
| Jan 17, 2020 | Scope Ratings | A+ | Stable | A+ | Positive | |
| Nov 29, 2019 | S&P | A+ | Stable | AA- | Stable | |
| Dec 15, 2017 | Fitch | A | Stable | A+ | Stable | |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Moody's | A3 | Positive | A2 | Stable | |
| Jul 28, 2017 | Scope Ratings | NR | A+ | Stable | ||
| May 14, 2016 | Moody's | Baa1 | Positive | A3 | Positive | |
| Mar 11, 2016 | DBRS | A | Positive | A (high) | Stable |
Table Key
| Grade | Moody's | S&P | Fitch | DBRS | Scope Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prime | Aaa | AAA | AAA | AAA | AAA |
High Grade | Aa1 | AA+ | AA+ | AA (high) | AA+ |
Aa2 | AA | AA | AA | AA | |
Aa3 | AA- | AA- | AA (low) | AA- | |
Upper Medium Grade | A1 | A+ | A+ | A (high) | A+ |
A2 | A | A | A | A | |
A3 | A- | A- | A (low) | A- | |
Lower Medium Grade | Baa1 | BBB+ | BBB+ | BBB (high) | BBB+ |
Baa2 | BBB | BBB | BBB | BBB | |
Baa3 | BBB- | BBB- | BBB (low) | BBB- | |
Non-investment Grade Speculative | Ba1 | BB+ | BB+ | BB (high) | BB+ |
Ba2 | BB | BB | BB | BB | |
Ba3 | BB- | BB- | BB (low) | BB- | |
Highly Speculative Grade | B1 | B+ | B+ | B (high) | B+ |
B2 | B | B | B | B | |
B3 | B- | B- | B (low) | B- | |
Substantial Risk Grade | Caa1 | CCC+ | CCC+ | CCC | |
Caa2 | CCC | CCC | CCC | CCC | |
Caa3 | CCC- | CCC- | CCC | ||
Extremely Speculative Grade | Ca | CC | CC | CCC | CC |
C | CCC | C | |||
In Default with Little Prospect for Recovery | CD | RD | RD | ||
In Default | SD | SD | |||
C | D | D | D | D | |
DD | DD | ||||
DDD | DDD | ||||
Not Rated | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
FAQ
What is a sovereign credit rating?
A sovereign credit rating is an independent assessment of a country's creditworthiness, issued by agencies like S&P, Moody's, Fitch, DBRS, and Scope. These long-term foreign-currency ratings shape borrowing costs and investor confidence, and changes often move currencies, bond yields, and equity markets.
Which agencies provide sovereign credit ratings?
The five largest agencies are S&P Global Ratings, Moody's Investors Service, Fitch Ratings, DBRS Morningstar, and Scope Ratings. They monitor financial, political, and economic conditions to publish updates.
What do outlooks mean in credit ratings?
A Positive outlook suggests a possible upgrade, Stable means no change is expected, and Negative signals a potential downgrade. Outlooks indicate the likely direction of a rating in the short to medium term and often shape market expectations.
How often are sovereign ratings updated?
There is no fixed timetable. Some agencies review ratings on set calendars, while others update after major financial, political, or economic events that could affect credit risk.
Where can I find historical sovereign ratings?
You can explore past ratings and outlook revisions on each country's dedicated page within the FXEmpire Credit Ratings Hub.
What is the difference between investment grade and speculative grade?
Investment grade (BBB-/Baa3 or higher) signals lower risk and wider investor access. Speculative grade (BB+/Ba1 or lower), also called high-yield or junk, carries higher risk and volatility but often comes with higher yields.
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