african sovereign debt

By LEAF Economy, LEAF

Africa’s $1.9 Trillion Debt Question

Africa’s public debt expanded from $510 billion in 2008 to $1.83 trillion in 2024, a 253% increase in 16 years. But the deeper story is not just how much African nations owe. It is who owes it, how debt is structured, and whether the continent can manage repayment without weakening growth. That is the central […]

The $102 Trillion Debt Question

Global public debt reached a record $102 trillion in 2024, equal to 93% of global GDP. Africa accounts for only about 1.9% of that debt, yet many African economies borrow at rates of 8% to 15%, compared with roughly 2% to 3% for the United States and China. That is the imbalance at the center […]