Algeria has maintained one of the lowest debt service-to-GDP ratios in Africa over the past decade and a half, and this trend is projected to continue. From 0.77% in 2009, the figure declined to just 0.10% in 2024 and is forecast to reach 0.09% by 2025. This represents a compound annual decline rate of -11.9% between 2009 and 2025 — a stark contrast to many other African economies that are struggling with rising debt burdens.
The decline has been consistent, with only brief fluctuations, such as a slight rise to 0.73% in 2012 before continuing its downward trajectory. Algeria’s ability to keep debt service low means it can direct more of its resources toward domestic investment, infrastructure, and social programmes rather than repayments. This sustained reduction is particularly notable, given the continent-wide challenge of escalating debt servicing costs.
Burundi recorded its highest GDP per capita in 2015 ($280.97).
By 2024, GDP per capita dropped to $153.93, a decline of nearly 45% from its peak.
Burundi’s population exceeds 13 million (2024), which dilutes income per person even when overall GDP grows.
Structural challenges like limited industrialization, reliance on subsistence farming, and political instability contribute to stagnation.
Since 2015, Burundi has held the lowest GDP per capita in Africa—and at $153.9 in 2024, it is the poorest country in the world by GDP per capita.
