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Indicators · Macro stability

General government gross debt

Total debt owed by all levels of government, as a share of GDP.

Why it matters

High public debt raises the risk of tax rises, spending cuts, arrears to suppliers and, in the worst case, default and capital controls.

Read with care

Excludes debts of state companies, which are large in several countries. Compare with debt service costs, not just the stock.

Source

IMF

% of GDP. 53 African countries, 1980 to 2025.

Govt debt: highest in Zambia, lowest in DRC

General government gross debt, % of GDP. Latest year available, 2025. 16 of 16 countries have data.

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Source: IMF· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Ranked: govt debtiWhy it mattersHigh public debt raises the risk of tax rises, spending cuts, arrears to suppliers and, in the worst case, default and capital controls.

Click a country to highlight it.

0%20%40%60%80%100%Zambia100.6%Malawi96.6%Mozambique90.3%Mauritius86.8%South Africa78.4%Namibia67.5%Angola52.9%Seychelles51.2%Tanzania49.8%Lesotho49.4%Madagascar47.7%Eswatini44.8%Zimbabwe38.0%Botswana34.0%Comoros30.5%DRC20.4%median 50.5%
dotzedw Insights Centre
How spread out SADC is
Median 50.5%Lowest: DRC 20.4%Highest: Zambia 100.6%

Over time

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General government gross debt against income per person

Each bubble is a SADC country, sized by population. Dashed lines mark the SADC medians. Countries far from the pattern are worth a closer look.

0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100.0%$1,000$3,000$10kGDP per person, US$ (log scale)Govt debtDRCTanzaniaSouth AfricaAngolaMozambiqueMadagascarZambiaZimbabwe
Source: IMF, World Bank·dotzedw Insights Centre

Table

The same figures as the map, for screen readers and copying.
RankCountryValueYearFive-year changeGradeDetails
1Zambia100.6%2025down 39.4 points since 2020A
2Malawi96.6%2025up 42.7 points since 2020A
3Mozambique90.3%2025down 29.7 points since 2020A
4Mauritius86.8%2025down 5.1 points since 2020A
5South Africa78.4%2025up 9.5 points since 2020A
6Namibia67.5%2025up 3.2 points since 2020A
7Angola52.9%2025down 66.9 points since 2020A
8Seychelles51.2%2025down 27.4 points since 2020A
9Tanzania49.8%2025up 8.5 points since 2020A
10Lesotho49.4%2025down 5.3 points since 2020A
11Madagascar47.7%2025down 5.2 points since 2020A
12Eswatini44.8%2025up 7.1 points since 2020A
13Zimbabwe38.0%2025down 18.8 points since 2020A
14Botswana34.0%2025up 10.5 points since 2020A
15Comoros30.5%2025up 5.0 points since 2020A
16DRC20.4%2025up 7.6 points since 2020A