Democratic Republic of Congo’s external debt to the IMF increased by 2,482% between 2019 and 2025

Key Takeaways:

  • The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reduced its external debt significantly from SDR 263 million in 2016 to SDR 69.3 million by 2019.
  • A sharp reversal occurred in 2020, with debt surging by 327% within a single year, from SDR 69.3 million in 2019 to SDR 296.2 million.
  • Over the decade from 2016 to 2025, the country’s debt increased by 580%, reaching SDR 1.79 billion by March 2025.
  • From 2020 to 2025, the DRC has accumulated over SDR 1.49 billion in new debt.

Between 2016 and 2019, the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced a consistent decline in its external debt to the International Monetary Fund. This period of fiscal restraint saw the debt fall from SDR 263 million to SDR 69.3 million.

However, 2020 marked a dramatic turning point. The country’s debt surged to SDR 296.2 million—a 327% increase in a single year. From that point forward, the DRC’s debt profile has continued on an upward path, with debt reaching SDR 1.79 billion by March 2025.

Source:

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Period:

2016 - 2025
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