Inventory of Arab Countries' Debts: Details of the Burdens that Weigh on People's Daily Lives and Pass on to the Grandchildren

Amin Sami, the expert and international advisor in economics, strategic planning, and change leadership, explains the uneven nature of the global debt crisis, stating that countries with deep financial markets and stable revenues can borrow under terms that differ from those imposed on resource-constrained economies, making the same amount of debt more expensive for some countries than others.

The map of public debt in the Arab world reveals a wide disparity in debt levels relative to GDP. According to IMF data from October 2026, Sudan tops the list with debt amounting to 334.4% of GDP, followed by Bahrain at 162.8%, then Lebanon at 139.4% (based on 2025 data), and Libya at 125.2%.

The high‑debt group also includes Tunisia at 86.1%, Egypt at 84%, and Jordan at 82.5% of GDP. These countries face varying degrees of pressure related to debt‑servicing costs, financing needs, and general budget deficits, in addition to challenges of maintaining the necessary social spending to support low‑ and middle‑income groups.

In this context, Al‑Shaker points out that a significant portion of debt for several Arab countries is domestic, such as Egypt and Morocco, which he considers not to pose a sovereignty issue. The same problems can arise from high dependence on external financing, recalling the experience of structural adjustment programs imposed by international financial institutions on countries suffering from budget deficits and accumulating external debt.

These pressures take on a broader dimension in light of the figures Sami cited regarding global financial conditions, according to the IMF, as net public debt interest payments in developing countries reached about $995 billion in 2025, while 3.7 billion people live in countries where debt interest spending exceeds spending on health or education.

Public debt is linked to the transformations in the energy sector and to the extent to which countries can secure their needs without exposing their budgets to international price volatility. Energy‑importing countries face higher import bills as oil and gas prices rise, increasing public expenditures in their budgets, especially when governments provide subsidies to protect consumers from rising energy prices.