Nigeria’s debt to the World Bank rose by $2.08bn in one year to $19.89bn as of December 31, 2025, according to an analysis of external debt stock data released by the Debt Management Office.
The figure represents an 11.7 per cent increase from the $17.81bn owed to the global lender as of December 31, 2024.
The World Bank debt comprises loans from the International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
IDA provides concessional grants and loans to low-income countries, while IBRD provides financial products and policy advice mainly to middle-income and creditworthy developing countries.
DMO data showed that Nigeria’s IDA debt rose from $16.56bn in 2024 to $18.51bn in 2025, an increase of $1.94bn or 11.73 per cent.
IBRD exposure also increased from $1.24bn to $1.38bn, representing an increase of $141.84m or 11.41 per cent.
The increase means World Bank loans accounted for 38.36 per cent of Nigeria’s total external debt stock of $51.86bn as of the end of 2025.
This was slightly lower than the 38.90 per cent share recorded in 2024, when total external debt stood at $45.78bn
