National Debt (% of GDP): Mali

Analysis# Mali National Debt (% of GDP) Mali's national debt stood at 48% of GDP in 2026, representing a dramatic improvement from its all-time peak of 90.5% in 2000. Over the past quarter-century, the country has reduced its debt burden by 47 percentage points, though current levels remain elevated compared to the historic low of 18.1% recorded in 2006. This substantial long-term decline reflects Mali's gradual fiscal stabilization efforts following the debt crisis of the early 2000s. Recent years reveal a concerning reversal of earlier progress. Mali's debt ratio climbed steadily from 38.2% in 2017 to a peak of 51.9% in 2023, driven by pandemic-related spending and economic pressures. While projections show modest improvement through 2026, the debt-to-GDP ratio remains well above pre-pandemic levels. Without sustained fiscal discipline, Mali risks eroding the gains achieved over its two decades of debt reduction.