Five African nations rank among the ten biggest borrowers from the International Monetary Fund, highlighting how debt pressures are shaping parts of the continent’s macroeconomic picture. Statisense said in a post on its X account on Monday that the ranking is based on IMF figures available as of June 24, 2026. The countries identified were Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Ghana and Angola.
Within the top ten, Argentina holds the top position, with the largest outstanding IMF credit reported at $42.55 billion. Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire place fourth and sixth respectively, with combined IMF credit of $10.78 billion. The data also indicates that the four African countries included in the calculation—Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Ghana—together owe the IMF a total of $21.40 billion.
Nigeria, meanwhile, does not appear among the IMF’s top ten borrowers, even as financial markets and policy observers watch for risks tied to higher indebtedness. The report pointed to a recent development in Nigeria’s financing plans: the government proceeded with a $1.5 billion drawdown from a $5 billion facility arranged with the United Arab Emirates’ largest lender, First Abu Dhabi Bank, despite an IMF warning against the transaction.
Additional debt figures cited in the statement show Nigeria’s overall debt stock rose to N159.28 in December 2025. External liabilities were described as accounting for 46.73% of the total, amounting to N74.43 trillion.
