(Ecofin Agency) - The Ivorian government plans to allocate CFA4,121 billion ($6.63 billion), or 26% of total spending, to servicing and repaying its debt in the 2025 budget. Finance Minister Adama Coulibaly made this announcement yesterday during his presentation of the draft Finance Law to the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.

As of June 30, 2024, Côte d’Ivoire's public debt stood at CFA28,944.7 billion, equivalent to 55.2% of the country’s GDP. This remains below the regional threshold of 70%. Projections indicate that the debt will rise to CFA32,000.1 billion by the end of 2024 and further to CFA34,656.7 billion in 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 8.5%. Despite this increase, debt servicing costs are expected to decline slightly, from CFA4,507 billion in 2024 to CFA4,181.2 billion in 2025.

The government continues to follow its 2022–2026 Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, which aims to source 45% of financing externally and 55% domestically. This approach seeks to reduce debt-related costs and risks while ensuring sufficient resources for national priorities. Between January and September 2024, the government repaid CFA1,583 billion. Additionally, Côte d’Ivoire is among the countries with the lowest borrowing costs on the regional debt market within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

For 2025, the state budget is set at CFA15,339.2 billion, marking an 11.8% increase compared to 2024. Budgetary resources are estimated at CFA7,865.4 billion, while expenditures will amount to CFA9,843.9 billion.

With a consolidated budget deficit of 3% of GDP and an expected tax pressure rate of 15.4% of GDP in 2025, Côte d’Ivoire aims to strike a balance between ambitious fiscal plans and financial discipline to support economic growth.