Unesco Says 113 Developing Nations Spent More on Debt Than Education in 2025
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 10
Unesco Says 113 Developing Nations Spent More on Debt Than Education in 2025
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 10
Summary
113 developing countries spent more servicing foreign debt than funding education in 2025, Unesco said, with sub-Saharan African states spending 3.6 times more on debt on average.
Aid losses are deepening the squeeze: low- and lower-middle-income countries have already lost 21% of education aid since 2023 and could lose up to 30% by 2027.
Debt pressure is most acute in heavily indebted states, where 18 countries spent five times more on debt than education and Sri Lanka spent up to 16 times more.
Debt Justice said poorer countries' repayments hit a 35-year high last year, with 56 countries using nearly a fifth of total revenue on loans after Covid, energy, rate and climate shocks.
Unesco warned the combined hit from debt service and aid cuts is disrupting schools and unpaid teachers, and called for longer-term debt relief that also binds private creditors.
With private lenders blocking debt relief, can a UK law change truly rescue education for millions?
As debt devours Africa's future, are 'debt-for-education' swaps a real solution or just a fantasy?
Could a 'Flourishing Impact Statement' force global finance to value children's education over creditor profits?
Global Education at Risk: How Escalating Debt Threatens Learning for 273 Million Children
Overview
The report highlights how the escalating burden of debt, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is threatening the global goal of quality education for all. Current financial strategies are trapping developing nations in a harmful cycle of austerity and underinvestment, which weakens economic growth and erodes their ability to generate domestic revenue. As a result, these countries struggle to manage debt over time, and crucial funds are diverted away from essential public services like education. This critical issue is now being discussed at high-level forums, emphasizing the urgent need for solutions to protect education from the impacts of debt.