Angola's debt burden reached a new peak in 2024, with its debt service hitting 68.3% of GDP

  • Debt service in Angola hit 68.3% of GDP in 2024.
  • Even with a projected fall to 67.7% in 2025, the debt burden remains high.
  • Between 2009 and 2025, the debt service ratio grew at a CAGR of 11.2%.
  • The ratio stayed below 15% from 2009 to 2014 before surging to 41.9% in 2016.
  • Angola has faced multiple spikes above 50% since 2019, showing recurring debt strain.
  • The sharp drop to 31.2% in 2022 was short-lived, followed by a steep increase.

Angola’s debt reached an all-time high of 68.3% of GDP in 2024. Even with a slight projected dip to 67.7% in 2025, the country remains in a position where more than two-thirds of its GDP goes into servicing debt, the highest ratio in Africa.

The chart also shows that Angola’s debt service ratio has not been a steady climb, but rather a series of sharp spikes and drops. After years of moderate levels (under 15%) from 2009 to 2014, the figure more than tripled between 2014 and 2016, hitting 41.9% in 2016. The years since then have been marked by volatility, with multiple jumps above 50%.

Source:

World Bank - IDS

Period:

2009-2025
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