The facts

  1. The World Bank said external debt stocks of low- and middle-income countries rose 5.5% to a record $9.4 trillion in 2025. [1][2]

  2. The Bank reported those countries paid $1.4 trillion in debt service during 2025. [1]

  3. The Bank said these countries paid $436 billion more in debt service than they received in new financing over 2022–25. [1]

  4. For IDA-eligible countries, the World Bank reported that average interest on new private-creditor commitments reached 8.2%, the highest since 1989. [1][2]

  5. The World Bank said external debt for IDA-eligible countries reached $1.3 trillion in 2025, up 8.1% from 2024. [1]

Sources

References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 6 Nov 2026, 18:42 UTC.

  1. Developing Countries’ External Debt Surges to Record $9.4 Trillion

    World Bank · Primary source · 5 Nov 2026

    Opened the World Bank’s press release and its reported debt and financing figures.

  2. Developing countries’ external debt hit record $9.4 trillion in 2025, World Bank says

    Reuters via Investing.com · Reporting · 5 Nov 2026

    Opened independent Reuters reporting on the release and its financing implications.

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