World Bank Reports Developing Countries' External Debt Reached Record $9.4 Trillion in 2025

The World Bank Group's International Debt Report 2026 revealed that the external debt of developing countries surged by 5.5% to a record $9.4 trillion in 2025, marking the fastest pace since 2021. This increase was largely driven by private financing, with bond issuance from public entities rising nearly 35% to $251 billion. Bangladesh's external debt alone nearly tripled over the past decade, reaching $113.44 billion by the end of 2025.