China’s rapid economic ascent over the past few decades has propelled it to become one of the world’s largest lenders. Through strategic investments and loans, China has extended its financial influence to numerous countries across the globe. China’s increasing role as a global lender has left several nations heavily indebted and dependent on its financial support. The countries most in debt to China are those that face significant challenges in managing their debt burdens and ensuring long-term financial stability.
While Chinese investments and loans have provided much-needed funding for infrastructure development and economic growth, there are concerns about the potential risks associated with such heavy reliance on Chinese debt. These concerns include the long-term financial stability of the indebted countries and potential implications on geopolitical dynamics. Further, the idea that China could gain significant leverage over countries and their infrastructure in the case of repayment issues has been cited often.
Here are the top 20 countries with the largest Chinese debt.
| Rank | Country | Debt to China |
| 1. | Pakistan | 26.60 billion |
| 2. | Angola | 20.98 billion |
| 3. | Sri Lanka | 8.84 billion |
| 4. | Ethiopia | 6.82 billion |
| 5. | Kenya | 6.69 billion |
| 6. | Bangladesh | 6.08 billion |
| 7. | Zambia | 6.05 billion |
| 8. | Laos | 5.25 billion |
| 9. | Egypt | 5.21 billion |
| 10. | Nigeria | 4.29 billion |
| 11. | Ecuador | 4.14 billion |
| 12. | Cambodia | 4.01 billion |
| 13. | Côte d’Ivoire | 3.92 billion |
| 14. | Belarus | 3.85 billion |
| 15. | Cameroon | 3.78 billion |
| 16. | Brazil | 3.43 billion |
| 17. | Republic of the Congo | 3.42 billion |
| 18. | South Africa | 3.38 billion |
| 19. | Mongolia | 3.02 billion |
| 20. | Argentina | 2.86 billion |
