Government debt, % of GDP (2025)
73.7 %
Owed abroad by the government, US$ billion (2024)
1.0
Largest creditor: Islamic Development Bank, % of foreign public debt
22.1 %
Owed to China, % of foreign public debt
2.4 %
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Gambia | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 42.9 | 32.1 |
| 2011 | 49.2 | 28.4 |
| 2012 | 49.5 | 26.4 |
| 2013 | 58.2 | 31.1 |
| 2014 | 71.1 | 36.4 |
| 2015 | 69.4 | 44.1 |
| 2016 | 80.9 | 45.9 |
| 2017 | 87.0 | 48.0 |
| 2018 | 83.6 | 49.2 |
| 2019 | 83.0 | 53.9 |
| 2020 | 85.9 | 56.7 |
| 2021 | 83.1 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 83.9 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 77.4 | 60.9 |
| 2024 | 75.9 | 56.8 |
| 2025 | 73.7 | 53.2 |
| 2026 | 67.4 (partial) | 52.5 (partial) |
| 2027 | 70.4 (partial) | 54.2 (partial) |
| 2028 | 64.7 (partial) | 53.0 (partial) |
| 2029 | 60.1 (partial) | 53.1 (partial) |
| 2030 | 55.7 (partial) | 51.7 (partial) |
| 2031 | 51.1 (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 | 61.9 % | 62% |
| Other governments | 37.7 % | 38% |
| Other lenders | 0.5 % | 0% |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Islamic Development Bank | Saudi Arabia | World Bank-IDA | Kuwait | Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 76 | 10 | 65 | 26 | 39 |
| 2011 | 84 | 9 | 64 | 27 | 40 |
| 2012 | 97 | 9 | 63 | 25 | 39 |
| 2013 | 104 | 14 | 62 | 24 | 39 |
| 2014 | 97 | 15 | 58 | 22 | 41 |
| 2015 | 118 | 24 | 55 | 29 | 40 |
| 2016 | 109 | 23 | 57 | 82 | 37 |
| 2017 | 141 | 41 | 105 | 86 | 43 |
| 2018 | 141 | 47 | 116 | 85 | 42 |
| 2019 | 139 | 62 | 118 | 89 | 49 |
| 2020 | 168 | 76 | 128 | 91 | 53 |
| 2021 | 171 | 82 | 131 | 95 | 59 |
| 2022 | 179 | 104 | 126 | 98 | 65 |
| 2023 | 212 | 112 | 128 | 114 | 77 |
| 2024 | 224 | 135 | 122 | 113 | 83 |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Where the Gambia ranks in Africa
- Government debt to GDP: 16th highest of 53.
- Total external debt in dollars: 42nd largest of 49.
- Compare the Gambia's debt with its neighbours on the data wall
More on the Gambia
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 Gambia owe?
The Gambia government and the debt it guarantees owed $1 billion to foreign lenders in 2024, according to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics. Counting domestic debt too, government debt was 73.7% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF.
Who is the Gambia's largest creditor?
Islamic Development Bank, owed $223.6 million in 2024, 22.1% of the government's foreign debt. Next: Saudi Arabia (13.3%), World Bank-IDA (12.1%) and Kuwait (11.1%).
How much does the Gambia owe China?
$24 million in 2024, 2.4% of public debt owed abroad, which makes China its 12th largest creditor.
What is the Gambia's debt to GDP ratio?
73.7% in 2025: general government gross debt as a share of GDP, from the IMF World Economic Outlook. That is the 16th highest of 53 African countries with a figure.