Egypt accounts for one-third of over SDR 26 billion owed by Africa’s top 10 IMF debtors

Key Takeaways:

  • Egypt leads African nations in IMF debt, with SDR 8.63 billion in outstanding credit.
  • The combined debt of these 10 countries represents 24% of the IMF’s total outstanding credit globally.
  • East African nations, Kenya and Ethiopia, hold a combined SDR 4.5 billion in IMF credit.
  • West Africa is strongly represented with Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Cameroon owing more than SDR 7.4 billion collectively.

As of March 31, 2025, Egypt is the largest African debtor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with outstanding credit totalling approximately SDR 8.63 billion—representing nearly one-third of the continent’s top 10 IMF debts. Kenya ranks second with SDR 3.02 billion, followed by Angola and Côte d'Ivoire, each with over SDR 2.6 billion.

Ghana's debt approaches SDR 2.5 billion, while the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Morocco each owe between SDR 1.2-1.8 billion. Cameroon and Senegal complete the top ten, with each country's debt exceeding SDR 1 billion.

Source:

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Period:

March 31, 2025
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10 Nigerian states and the FCT cut their external debt by a combined $227.19 million in H1 2025
  • Ten states and the FCT collectively reduced their external debt by $227.19 million in H1 2025.
  • Lagos, Edo, and Rivers accounted for most of the reductions, making up more than three-quarters of the total.
  • Several smaller states also trimmed their balances, but by relatively modest amounts.
  • These reductions significantly offset the increases recorded by 26 other states, helping keep nationwide net external debt growth low.

26 Nigerian states added a combined $239m to their external debt in H1 2025
  • 26 states increased their external debt by a combined $239 million in H1 2025.
  • Imo, Oyo, Kaduna, Enugu, and Ogun recorded the biggest increases.
  • 11 states, including the FCT, reduced their debt through higher repayments.
  • Lagos, Edo, Rivers, and Bauchi accounted for most of the $227 million in reductions.
  • Total state external debt rose only slightly, from $4.8 billion to $4.812 billion.

Nigeria’s public debt has soared since 2010, with domestic debt up 2,020% and external debt up 1,000% by mid 2025
  • Nigeria’s domestic debt jumped from ₦3.8 trillion in 2010 to ₦80.55 trillion by mid-2025.
  • Foreign debts increased from $4.27 billion in 2010 to $46.98 billion in 2025, reflecting growing reliance on external financing.
  • Debt accumulation surged notably after 2020, coinciding with pandemic spending, naira depreciation, and higher fiscal deficits.
  • The widening gap between revenue and debt service raises questions about Nigeria’s long-term debt sustainability.

Borno records lowest domestic debt in North-East Nigeria at ₦22.3 billion in Q2 2025
  • The six North-Eastern states collectively owe around ₦450 billion in domestic debt as of Q2 2025.
  • Borno State maintains the lowest debt in the region at ₦22.3 billion, showing signs of controlled borrowing amid post-conflict rebuilding.
  • Bauchi State has the highest domestic debt burden of ₦143.6 billion, accounting for about 31% of the region’s total.
  • The top three states, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe, collectively account for more than two-thirds of the zone’s total subnational debt stock.

In just six months, Nigeria spent over $2.3 billion servicing external debts
  • Nigeria paid $816.3 million to the International Monetary Fund, accounting for over 35% of total external debt service payments.
  • Eurobond payments followed closely, with $687.8 million paid, reflecting Nigeria’s heavy reliance on commercial debt instruments.
  • Multilateral lenders like IDA and AfDB collectively received about $463 million, signalling continued exposure to concessional financing.
  • China’s share shrinking: Payments to Chinese lenders (EXIM + CDB) totalled $235.6 million, less than 11% of total outflows, suggesting reduced Chinese debt servicing in H1 2025.

Over 60% of Nigeria’s ₦1.7 trillion domestic debt service in Q2 2025 was spent on Federal Government Bonds
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