Nigeria vs Senegal: Government debt
Government debt in 2025: 36.1% of GDP in Nigeria and 127.7% of GDP in Senegal, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Senegal, by 91.6 percentage points, or 3.54 times that in Nigeria.
NigeriaSenegal
Watch it change on the map% of GDP · IMF
Latest figures
% of GDP · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 36.1 2025 | 14.9 | 114 of 149 | 31.9 2031 |
| Senegal | 127.7 2025 | 44.5 | 5 of 149 | — |
What the numbers say
- Senegal has been higher since 2000, when it overtook Nigeria.
- In 2025, Nigeria ranked 114 and Senegal ranked 5 of 149 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Nigeria at 31.9% of GDP in 2031.
Every year
% of GDP · IMF
| Year | Nigeria | Senegal |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36.1 | 127.7 |
| 2024 | 39.3 | 136.1 |
| 2023 | 36.3 | 120.6 |
| 2022 | 29.8 | 106.9 |
| 2021 | 26.6 | 98.9 |
| 2020 | 25.7 | 90.5 |
| 2019 | 21.4 | 79.6 |
| 2018 | 20.4 | 61.5 |
| 2017 | 18 | 61.1 |
| 2016 | 17.4 | 47.5 |
| 2015 | 14.9 | 44.5 |
| 2014 | 15.8 | 42.4 |
| 2013 | 13 | 36.9 |
| 2012 | 12.5 | 34.5 |
| 2011 | 12.4 | 32.9 |
| 2010 | 6.7 | 34.6 |
| 2009 | 6.1 | 29.9 |
| 2008 | 5.2 | 19.1 |
| 2007 | 5.8 | 19 |
| 2006 | 6.7 | 17.5 |
| 2005 | 13.5 | 36.1 |
| 2004 | 25.2 | 38 |
| 2003 | 29.9 | 42.9 |
| 2002 | 30.7 | 52 |
| 2001 | 37.7 | 53.2 |
| 2000 | 40.9 | 57.5 |
| 1999 | 46.1 | 15 |
| 1998 | 15.8 | 18.8 |
| 1997 | 17.1 | 67.8 |
| 1996 | 17.9 | 0.1 |
| 1995 | 24.2 | – |
| 1994 | 39.7 | – |
| 1993 | 50.4 | – |
| 1992 | 49.8 | – |
| 1991 | 53.2 | – |
| 1990 | 50.9 | – |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | Nigeria | Senegal |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 34.7 | – |
| 2027 | 32.8 | – |
| 2028 | 32.9 | – |
| 2029 | 32.5 | – |
| 2030 | 32.2 | – |
| 2031 | 31.9 | – |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the government owes, as a share of the economy’s yearly output.
- Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
- The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 149 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time