Egypt, Arab Republic of External Debt

Egypt’s external debt has expanded dramatically over the 56‑year span from 1,801,624,657.40 in 1970 to a record 173,876,261,535.59 in 2025, placing the country at the twelfth position globally. The trajectory reflects a near‑century‑long accumulation of borrowing that accelerated after the early 2000s, coinciding with large‑scale infrastructure projects and fiscal deficits, and peaked in the current year. Compared with peers of similar rank, Egypt’s debt is slightly lower than Thailand’s 196,604,675,326.35 but exceeds South Africa’s 170,866,738,406.74, underscoring a relative vulnerability among emerging economies that rely heavily on external financing. The steep rise from the 1970 trough to the 2025 peak suggests that debt servicing costs have become a growing share of public expenditure, potentially crowding out social spending. If Egypt can diversify its export base, attract stable foreign direct investment, and implement prudent fiscal consolidation, the upward pressure on external debt may moderate, allowing the country to stabilize its external liabilities in the coming decade.