Government debt, % of GDP (2025)
42.0 %
Owed abroad by the government, US$ billion (2024)
0.6
Largest creditor: World Bank-IDA, % of foreign public debt
18.2 %
Owed to China, % of foreign public debt
6.2 %
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Burundi | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 46.9 | 32.1 |
| 2011 | 42.7 | 28.4 |
| 2012 | 41.4 | 26.4 |
| 2013 | 37.9 | 31.1 |
| 2014 | 37.9 | 36.4 |
| 2015 | 39.9 | 44.1 |
| 2016 | 46.1 | 45.9 |
| 2017 | 46.9 | 48.0 |
| 2018 | 53.0 | 49.2 |
| 2019 | 60.1 | 53.9 |
| 2020 | 65.9 | 56.7 |
| 2021 | 66.4 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 68.5 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 60.4 | 60.9 |
| 2024 | 53.8 | 56.8 |
| 2025 | 42.0 | 53.2 |
| 2026 | 40.4 (partial) | 52.5 (partial) |
| 2027 | 41.1 (partial) | 54.2 (partial) |
| 2028 | 39.1 (partial) | 53.0 (partial) |
| 2029 | 37.6 (partial) | 53.1 (partial) |
| 2030 | 37.9 (partial) | 51.7 (partial) |
| 2031 | 37.5 (partial) | 50.7 (partial) |
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Part | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Development banks and funds | 66.4 % | 66% |
| Other governments | 33.6 % | 34% |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | World Bank-IDA | OPEC Fund for International Development | European Investment Bank | Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 163 | 16 | 5 | 33 | 22 |
| 2011 | 170 | 33 | 0 | 32 | 22 |
| 2012 | 175 | 43 | Not published | 35 | 22 |
| 2013 | 173 | 44 | Not published | 36 | 22 |
| 2014 | 161 | 60 | 0 | 29 | 36 |
| 2015 | 151 | 67 | 0 | 28 | 36 |
| 2016 | 143 | 80 | 0 | 28 | 36 |
| 2017 | 148 | 81 | 0 | 29 | 36 |
| 2018 | 142 | 85 | 0 | 35 | 36 |
| 2019 | 138 | 87 | 22 | 39 | 41 |
| 2020 | 140 | 85 | 25 | 48 | 51 |
| 2021 | 132 | 88 | 48 | 58 | 52 |
| 2022 | 122 | 93 | 52 | 64 | 55 |
| 2023 | 118 | 92 | 77 | 68 | 64 |
| 2024 | 109 | 94 | 72 | 71 | 70 |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Where Burundi ranks in Africa
- Government debt to GDP: 41st highest of 53.
- Total external debt in dollars: 45th largest of 49.
- Compare Burundi's debt with its neighbours on the data wall
More on Burundi
Method and sources
Debt to GDP is the IMF's general government gross debt, which covers domestic and foreign debt of every level of government. Debt owed abroad by the government and debt it guarantees. Excludes IMF credit and private debt that is not guaranteed. WLD is the total. Creditor names are the World Bank's. Figures checked 24 October 2026.
IMF government debt data · World Bank International Debt Statistics
Frequently asked questions
How much does Burundi owe?
Burundi government and the debt it guarantees owed $601.2 million to foreign lenders in 2024, according to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics. Counting domestic debt too, government debt was 42% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF.
Who is Burundi's largest creditor?
World Bank-IDA, owed $109.5 million in 2024, 18.2% of the government's foreign debt. Next: OPEC Fund for International Development (15.6%), European Investment Bank (12%) and Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) (11.8%).
How much does Burundi owe China?
$37.2 million in 2024, 6.2% of public debt owed abroad, which makes China its 7th largest creditor.
What is Burundi's debt to GDP ratio?
42% in 2025: general government gross debt as a share of GDP, from the IMF World Economic Outlook. That is the 41st highest of 53 African countries with a figure.