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COVID-19
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A stack of Guatemalan coins

A stack of Guatemalan coins

Debt

Debt financing is critical for development. When used wisely it can help achieve sustained inclusive growth. We work with client countries to strengthen debt management and help them make more informed borrowing decisions.

Featured

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STATEMENT

World Bank Welcomes Zambia Creditor Committee Statement

The World Bank Group welcomes the Creditor Committee for Zambia statement that was issued July 30 under the Common Framework.
Blog

A looming food crisis

Several of the countries at greatest risk of a debt crisis are now grappling with the threat of a simultaneous food crisis.
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Resources

Debt & Fiscal Risks Toolkit

Explore our one-stop shop for all the tools countries need to manage, record, and assess debt.

Debt At-A-Glance

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, debt was already at record highs in emerging and developing economies. The pandemic is pushing a growing number of these countries into debt distress. Supporting the poorest countries in the fight against COVID-19 is our most urgent priority. We are deploying unprecedented support to enable countries to concentrate their resources on responding to the pandemic.

Overview

Data

Total Debt Service, % of GNI in Low-Income Countries

More Debt Data

Focus Area

Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC)

Launched in 1996, HIPC was designed to ensure that the poorest countries are not overwhelmed by unmanageable or unsustainable debt burdens. To date, 37 participating countries have received over $100 billion in debt relief.

Research & Resources

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Debt accumulation in recent years

Debt accumulation in recent years

Global debt has surged in recent years, but the seeds were sown long before COVID-19. Between 2011 and 2019, public debt in a sample of 65 developing countries increased by 18 percent of GDP on average—and by much more in several cases. Learn more.

Growing vulnerability to interest rate hikes

Today, much of the debt of developing economies involves variable interest rates—meaning they could rise almost as suddenly as rates on credit-card debt. This has left many countries in a precarious position. Learn more.

Blogs

Experts

Marcello Estevão

Global Director

The World Bank

Ivailo Izvorski

Practice Manager, Global Macro and Debt Analytics

News & Events

What's New

View All What's New

Latest Events

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In Depth

Report

Debt Transparency in Developing Economies

A World Bank study offers the first comprehensive assessment of the global and national systems for monitoring sovereign debt.

Download the report
Press release
Overview video
World Bank Live Event
Debt Transparency in Developing Economies
Interactive

Debt Heat Maps

How transparent are IDA countries in their debt reporting practices or when issuing domestic debt? Explore our interactive heat maps, which track transparency according to key indicators.

Debt Reporting Heat Map
Domestic Debt Securities Heat Map
Trust Fund

Debt Management Facility (DMF)

The DMF is a multi-donor trust fund that supports the World Bank Group's debt management work in low-income countries.

Countries Eligible for DMF Assistance
Debt Management Facility: A 10-Year Retrospective
Debt Management Facility (DMF)
Trust Fund

Government Debt and Risk Management Program (GDRM)

The GDRM program assists countries in developing sustainable debt and risk management frameworks to reduce vulnerability to financial shocks.
Debt Transparency

Debt Service Suspension Initiative

Explore a detailed country-by-country breakdown of DSSI participants and the amounts they owe to their creditors.

Factsheet
Q&As
Debt Service Suspension Initiative

Work With Us In Debt

Additional Resources

Related Sites

Topics
- Global Economic Prospects

Contact

Washington, DC

Joe Rebello

jrebello@worldbankgroup.org

Washington, DC

Paul Blake

pblakeiv@worldbankgroup.org