The Central African Republic's debt
How much the Central African Republic owes, to whom, and how that compares with the rest of Africa. From IMF and World Bank figures.
Government debt, % of GDP (2025)
42.6 %
Owed abroad by the government, US$ billion (2024)
0.4
Largest creditor: World Bank-IDA, % of foreign public debt
26.6 %
Owed to China, % of foreign public debt
4.4 %
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Central African Republic | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 13.6 | 32.1 |
| 2011 | 12.7 | 28.4 |
| 2012 | 23.2 | 26.4 |
| 2013 | 36.2 | 31.1 |
| 2014 | 39.9 | 36.4 |
| 2015 | 38.5 | 44.1 |
| 2016 | 35.5 | 45.9 |
| 2017 | 34.6 | 48.0 |
| 2018 | 35.3 | 49.2 |
| 2019 | 32.9 | 53.9 |
| 2020 | 29.6 | 56.7 |
| 2021 | 32.3 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 34.2 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 39.0 | 60.9 |
| 2024 | 41.6 | 56.8 |
| 2025 | 42.6 | 53.2 |
| 2026 | 43.5 (partial) | 52.5 (partial) |
| 2027 | 44.5 (partial) | 54.2 (partial) |
| 2028 | 45.3 (partial) | 53.0 (partial) |
| 2029 | 46.1 (partial) | 53.1 (partial) |
| 2030 | 47.1 (partial) | 51.7 (partial) |
| 2031 | 48.2 (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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other governments | 47.5 % | 48% |
| Development banks and funds | 38.8 % | 39% |
| Other lenders | 13.7 % | 14% |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | World Bank-IDA | Saudi Arabia | Several lenders together | India | Kuwait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 14 | 21 | 62 | 29 | 39 |
| 2011 | 19 | 12 | 60 | 32 | 23 |
| 2012 | 23 | 12 | 60 | 34 | 23 |
| 2013 | 23 | 12 | 60 | 34 | 22 |
| 2014 | 53 | 12 | 60 | 42 | 22 |
| 2015 | 59 | 12 | 60 | 42 | 21 |
| 2016 | 60 | 17 | 60 | 42 | 21 |
| 2017 | 64 | 17 | 60 | 42 | 21 |
| 2018 | 99 | 23 | 60 | 42 | 21 |
| 2019 | 107 | 32 | 60 | 43 | 21 |
| 2020 | 130 | 32 | 60 | 45 | 21 |
| 2021 | 133 | 58 | 60 | 45 | 21 |
| 2022 | 126 | 60 | 60 | 45 | 21 |
| 2023 | 124 | 72 | 60 | 45 | 21 |
| 2024 | 117 | 72 | 60 | 43 | 21 |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Where the Central African Republic ranks in Africa
- Government debt to GDP: 40th highest of 53.
- Total external debt in dollars: 46th largest of 49.
- Compare the Central African Republic's debt with its neighbours on the data wall
More on the Central African Republic
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 the Central African Republic owe?
The Central African Republic government and the debt it guarantees owed $438.8 million to foreign lenders in 2024, according to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics. Counting domestic debt too, government debt was 42.6% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF.
Who is the Central African Republic's largest creditor?
World Bank-IDA, owed $116.8 million in 2024, 26.6% of the government's foreign debt. Next: Saudi Arabia (16.4%), Several lenders together (13.7%) and India (9.8%).
How much does the Central African Republic owe China?
$19.2 million in 2024, 4.4% of public debt owed abroad, which makes China its 7th largest creditor.
What is the Central African Republic's debt to GDP ratio?
42.6% in 2025: general government gross debt as a share of GDP, from the IMF World Economic Outlook. That is the 40th highest of 53 African countries with a figure.