Egypt’s government debt rose to 79.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2026, up from 78.3% a year earlier, according to the latest global debt report from the Institute of International Finance (IIF).
The ratio remained above the emerging-market average of 76.8% and the African average of 62.2% during the quarter.
Egypt has set targets to bring down public debt relative to GDP. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said earlier this month that the ratio had fallen from more than 96% of GDP three years ago to around 82%, with the government targeting 78% by the end of the current fiscal year.
Madbouly said the government aims to continue reducing the debt ratio to lower levels by 2030, with stronger economic growth and higher GDP expected to play a key role in achieving the targets.
Meanwhile, debt held by Egypt’s non-financial corporations rose slightly to 19.7% of GDP in Q2 2026, compared with 19.5% in the same quarter of 2025. The ratio remained well below the emerging-market average of 89.1%.
Household debt also edged up to 7.4% of GDP from 7.2% a year earlier, compared with an emerging-market average of 40.4%, according to the IIF.
The IIF also included Egypt among emerging markets that issued euro-denominated sovereign bonds in 2026, amid record activity in emerging-market euro bond issuance during the year.
