As Global Public Debt Hits $111tn, UNCTAD Raises Concerns over Investment Squeeze in Developing Countries

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reported that global public debt rose to $111 trillion, up from $49 trillion in 2010, raising concerns that rising borrowing costs are pressuring developing countries’ public finances and limiting resources for health, education, and other development priorities. In its latest “World of debt” publication, UNCTAD revealed that since 2022, interest payments on external public debt have exceeded net new lending to developing countries. Developing countries face average public debt interest rates of 5.2 per cent, compared to 2.2 per cent in developed economies, driving interest payments from $363 billion in 2010 to nearly $1 trillion in 2025. Borrowing nations are set to hold their first formal meeting in Thailand next week.

Read More