Low-income countries' external debt repayments to private creditors are three times higher than those to China, underlining their financial difficulties.

Data published by Debt Justice UK shows that low-income countries pay three times as much to private creditors as they pay to China, contradicting the idea that Beijing is primarily responsible for the debt crisis. Commercial lenders, which charge high interest rates, are the main beneficiaries of these payments, leaving countries to face urgent needs in education and infrastructure. The analysis points out that between 2020 and 2025, 39% of foreign debt payments will go to private creditors.