Developing countries spend more repaying foreign debt than on education, UN reveals
Summary
Many developing countries spend more money paying off foreign debt than on education, according to the UN. At the same time, global financial aid for education is falling, which makes it harder for these countries to support schools and teachers.Key Facts
- In 2025, 113 developing countries spent more on repaying foreign debt than on education.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, countries spent 3.6 times more on debt payments than on education.
- Aid for education to low- and lower-middle-income countries dropped by 21% in 2023 and could fall by up to 30% by 2027.
- Some countries like Afghanistan, Mali, Niger, and Liberia lost over 40% of their education aid in three years.
- Eighteen heavily indebted countries spent at least five times more on debt than education; Sri Lanka spent up to 16 times more.
- Debt repayments by poorer countries reached a 35-year high in 2023, with 56 countries using nearly 20% of their revenue to service loans.
- Reduced aid and debt payments have caused shortages in school funding and unpaid teachers in many countries.
- Experts call for better debt relief plans focused on long-term sustainability and involving private lenders who currently block debt agreements.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
