AFRICAN DEBT

Which are Africa's largest debtors to the World Bank?

Africa's largest debtors to the World Bank, particularly to its International Development Association (IDA), include:

1. Nigeria - The largest debtor in Africa and the third-largest globally to the World Bank's IDA, with a significant increase in debt recently.

2. Egypt

3. Ethiopia

4. Kenya

5. Tanzania

These top five countries accounted for 46% of Africa's outstanding debt with the World Bank as of 2022.

Regarding external debt (not just to the World Bank but overall), the top African countries with the largest external debt in 2025 include:

- Egypt: $103.75 billion

- South Africa: $58.77 billion

- Angola: $45.77 billion

- Morocco: $45.64 billion

- Sudan: $37.84 billion

- Nigeria: $32.46 billion

- Kenya: $30.51 billion

- Tunisia: $27.08 billion

- Ethiopia: $25.76 billion

- Ghana: $22.55 billion

Nigeria stands out specifically as the largest debtor in Africa to the World Bank's IDA, with huge recent borrowing increases, while Egypt and others have the highest overall external debt.

Top African debtors to World Bank

The top African debtors to the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) as of 2024 are:

1. Nigeria – $16.5 billion  

2. Ethiopia – $12.2 billion  

3. Kenya – $12.0 billion  

4. Tanzania – $11.7 billion  

5. Ghana – $6.7 billion  

6. Uganda – $4.8 billion  

Nigeria is the largest debtor in Africa to the World Bank's IDA, holding the highest outstanding debt. These debts primarily support development projects in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and governance aimed at fostering economic growth and poverty reduction in the continent's low-income countries.

The IDA loans often come with low or zero interest and long repayment terms, but the levels of borrowing also raise concerns about long-term debt sustainability for these nations. 

This ranking highlights the heavy reliance on IDA financing by these countries and the importance of managing borrowing to maintain economic stability.