Recent data from the International Monetary Fund, highlighted by Statisense on Monday, identifies five African nations within the global top ten for outstanding credit. The countries listed are Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Ghana, and Angola.
Argentina currently leads the global list, holding $42.55 billion in outstanding debt. Individually, Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire secure the fourth and sixth positions, respectively, sharing a total credit balance of $10.78 billion. In total, the debt owed by these African nations to the IMF reaches $21.40 billion.
Notably, Nigeria is absent from the top ten list, even as the nation grapples with significant financial pressures. The Nigerian government recently accessed $1.5 billion of a $5 billion financing package from First Abu Dhabi Bank, ignoring warnings from the IMF. By the end of 2025, Nigeria’s total public debt reached N159.28 trillion, with external obligations accounting for N74.43 trillion or 46.73 percent of that total.
