KABUL (Pajhwok): Pakistan’s total external debt nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from $68.7 billion in 2015 to $135.1 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank.
The World Bank’s 2026 International Debt Report, released on Thursday (November 5), said Pakistan’s external debt had increased by approximately $66.4 billion, or 96.7 per cent, over the 10-year period.
According to the report, about $92.9 billion of Pakistan’s total external debt at the end of 2025 consisted of long-term public sector debt and publicly guaranteed loans.
The World Bank also reported that Pakistan’s total external debt stood at approximately $129.9 billion in 2024 before rising to $135.1 billion in 2025.
Meanwhile, the report said the total external debt of low- and middle-income countries increased by 5.5 per cent in 2025, reaching a record $9.4 trillion.
It added that the external debt of countries eligible for concessional financing from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) rose by 8.1 per cent to $1.3 trillion.
The World Bank further reported that low- and middle-income countries paid a total of $1.4 trillion in principal and interest repayments in 2025, representing a 1.9 per cent increase compared with the previous year.
The institution warned that rising debt levels and higher borrowing costs could limit the financial resources available for investment in key development sectors.
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