JOHANNESBURG, Nov 19, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - South Africa hosts the first G20 summit on African soil this weekend, with a debt crisis strangling many developing countries, at the top of the pile of issues on the table.

Here are some of the facts and figures around the borrowing that is essential to finance development, but can also undermine investments because of high-serving costs.

- Snowballing -

Developing countries shoulder $31 trillion in global debt, double their share in 2010, according to UNCTAD, the UN body for integrating developing countries into the global economy.

There is a "snowball effect", Togolese economist Kako Nubukpo told AFP.

African economies with young populations that require education, healthcare and jobs have a strong demand for financing, he said.

But "deficits are accumulating and deficits are turning into debt", said the former minister.