Top 10 African countries with the largest general government debt (% of GDP)

Business Insider

20-05-2025

As African governments pursue ambitious development goals ranging from infrastructure renovations to expanded healthcare and education, several have turned to borrowing to meet their financial demands.
Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the largest general government debt (% of GDP).
This list is courtesy of the Africa Pulse report by the World Bank.
Eritrea ranks number 1 in the list.
While borrowing is a normal and often necessary economic instrument, it becomes problematic when the general government's debt exceeds the size of the economy.
General government debt, expressed as a proportion of GDP, is an important indication of a country's financial health.
This figure has been increasing throughout Africa, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.
When a country's general government debt as a percentage of GDP rises too high, it can have major consequences for economic development, stability, and the well-being of its people.
One of the most obvious implications of rising government debt is less flexibility in national budgets.
Countries are required to devote major percentages of their revenue to debt servicing, paying back interest and principal, rather than investing in key areas like health, education, infrastructure, and social security.
For example, in Ghana and Kenya, rising debt levels have resulted in budget cuts for key services. This not only delays growth but also disproportionately impacts the most disadvantaged groups.
A high debt-to-GDP ratio can lead to debt distress, which occurs when a country is unable to satisfy its debt commitments without external assistance or restructuring.
This frequently results in involvement from entities such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which may impose policy conditions requiring austerity measures.
Additionally, credit rating companies such as Moody's, Fitch, and Standard & Poor's regularly monitor countries' debt levels.
A high general government debt-to-GDP ratio frequently leads to credit rating downgrades, making foreign capital market access more expensive and complicated.
This reduces a country's capacity to access money for development initiatives, requiring governments to resort to more expensive and risky kinds of borrowing.
With that said, here are the 10 African countries with the highest general government debt as a percentage of their GDP, according to the Africa Pulse report by the World Bank.
Top 10 African countries with the largest general government debt (% of GDP)
Rank African country General goverment debt as a % of GDP
1. Eritrea 202.4%
2. Sudan 142.7%
3. Cabo Verde 104.6%
4. Senegal 99.9%
5. Mozambique 96.8%
6. Congo Republic 89.6%
7. Mauritius 87.5%
8. Rwanda 84.8%
9. Malawi 81.9%
10. Guinea-Bissau 80.5%