A new database reveals the top 10 African countries with the highest cumulative debt to China between 2000 and 2023.
A new report by Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center has ranked the top 10 African countries with the highest cumulative debt to China between 2000 and 2023. Angola leads the list with $46 billion in debt across 270 loans, largely driven by post-war reconstruction in oil and infrastructure. Ethiopia follows with $14.5 billion from 66 agreements, backing major projects like the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway.
Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria also feature prominently, each holding debts between $9.5 and $9.7 billion, mainly for transport, power, and real estate projects. Zambia’s $9.5 billion stems from the highest number of loans—82—suggesting frequent smaller borrowings. South Africa, Sudan, Ghana, and Cameroon round out the list, each owing over $5.9 billion.
“These loans have helped build roads, railways, power plants,” the report notes, “but they have also raised questions about debt sustainability, repayment risks, and the long-term autonomy of African economies.”
After years of decline, Chinese lending to Africa rose in 2023, reflecting a shift toward more financially viable projects.