The UN drew attention to countries with high interest rates on public debt

Almost half of the world's population lives in countries where interest payments on government debt exceed the costs of medicine and education.

In 2025, developing countries paid interest on government debt of nearly $1 trillion, triple the 2010 figure.

Debt servicing in many developing countries now exceeds the flow of new funds.

UN, October 7 – RIA Novosti. Nearly half the world's population lives in countries where interest payments on public debt exceed spending on medicine and education, according to a new report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

“There are 3.7 billion people living in countries where interest payments on public debt exceed spending on medicine and education,” the report says.

The document notes that in 2025, developing countries paid interest on government debt of almost $1 trillion. This is three times more than in 2010.

The authors of the report emphasize that such a situation slows down the development of states.

"Debt should help countries invest in the future. But in many developing countries, debt servicing now exceeds the influx of new funds," the document states.