ADVERTISEMENT

Top 10 African countries with the lowest debt to the IMF at the start of 2025

African countries with minimal IMF debt demonstrate the benefits of careful financial management and diverse economic strategies.

IMF
  • Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the lowest debt to the IMF at the start of 2025.
  • This list is courtesy of data from the International Monetary Fund.
  • Lesotho ranks number 1 on the list.
ADVERTISEMENT

Starting the new year with less debt relieves economic constraints and gives governments more leeway to address critical national concerns.

Avoiding significant IMF debt has helped these nations reduce economic risks, promote sustainable development, and maintain national sovereignty.

By avoiding severe lending conditions, they can better deploy resources to important areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social welfare.

ADVERTISEMENT

Additionally, African countries with minimal debt avoid the difficulties of austerity policies that sometimes accompany big IMF loans, unlike those with heavy debt.

These policies, which usually consist of tax hikes, expenditure cuts, or the elimination of subsidies, may stabilize economies temporarily but frequently impede long-term growth and progress.

These low-debt nations' capacity to prioritize investments that promote sustainable development and poverty alleviation is another indication of their economic resilience.

This strategy creates the groundwork for more extensive economic prospects and promotes a positive growth cycle.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Africa’s external debt has grown substantially during the last decade, reaching a record level of $656 billion in 2022,” according to the Unpacking Africa’s Debt report by the UN states.

Despite this, many African countries have managed to keep their lending low, relying almost solely on domestic economic solutions.

With that said, here are the 10 African countries with the highest debt to the IMF as of 20th, January 2025.

Burundi has less debt to the IMF than Seychelles for this month, putting it in tenth place ahead of Seychelles, which ranked 10th last month.

ADVERTISEMENT
Rank Country Total IMF Credit Outstanding as of 01/27/2025
1. Lesotho 11,660,000
2. Comoros 20,926,125
3. Sao Tome & Principe 27,665,439
4. Eswatini 29,437,500
5. Djibouti 31,800,000
6. Guinea-Bissau 52,291,400
7. Equatorial Guinea 65,749,584
8. Cabo Verde 72,116,000
9. Somalia 87,000,000
10. Burundi 100,600,000

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

Dangote Refinery rolls out Euro 5 diesel, commits to reducing gasoline sulphur levels

Dangote Refinery rolls out Euro 5 diesel, commits to reducing gasoline sulphur levels

Nigeria's inflation drops after data adjustment, but outlook remains murky

Nigeria's inflation drops after data adjustment, but outlook remains murky

Africa’s largest oil producer in nuclear talks with Russia

Africa’s largest oil producer in nuclear talks with Russia

Trump's foreign aid cuts threaten $1 billion African minerals project

Trump's foreign aid cuts threaten $1 billion African minerals project

Dangote details his battle against the ‘oil mafia’ as he notes that he never loses

Dangote details his battle against the ‘oil mafia’ as he notes that he never loses

Ghana's early exit from IMF programme could destabilize economy, according to experts

Ghana's early exit from IMF programme could destabilize economy, according to experts

Ghana sets up student desks in 11 diplomatic missions to aid students studying abroad

Ghana sets up student desks in 11 diplomatic missions to aid students studying abroad

Concerns grow over reports that Russia is sending ex-convicts disguised as mercenary forces to Africa

Concerns grow over reports that Russia is sending ex-convicts disguised as mercenary forces to Africa

28,000 stranded USAID staff in Nigeria receive government backing

28,000 stranded USAID staff in Nigeria receive government backing

ADVERTISEMENT