The Tanzania’s national debt stock was US$44,891.5 million at the end of August 2024, reflecting a 1.7 percent increase from the stock at the end of the preceding month, the central bank has reported.

Out of the total debt stock, 72.8 percent was external debt. External Debt External debt stock recorded a monthly increase of 2.1 percent, reaching US$32,675.1 million at the end of August 2024. 

External loans disbursed during the month amounted to USD 433 million, mainly to the central government, while external debt service totalled US$30.6 million. 

Of this, US$20.6 million was principal repayment, and the balance was interest payments. The composition of external debt stock by borrower and creditor remained unchanged from the preceding month and the corresponding period in 2023. 

External debt owed to the central government and issued by multilateral institutions remained dominant, at 76.9 percent and 53.7 percent, respectively. 

Similarly, transportation and telecommunications economic activities continued to hold the largest portion of the disbursed outstanding external debt at 21.3 percent, followed by social welfare and education. 

The outstanding external debt maintained its currency composition, with the US dollar holding the largest share at 67.9 percent.

Domestic debt stock was 32.7trn/- at the end of August 2024, reflecting a monthly increase of 295bn/- billion from the previous month’s stock, driven by new issuance of Treasury bonds. 

Treasury bonds continued to dominate the domestic debt portfolio, accounting for 77.7 percent of the stock, while commercial banks and social security schemes remained the primary holders of the government’s domestic debt. 

In August 2024, the Government raised a total of 755.6bn/- from the primary domestic market for budget financing, of which 650.9bn/- was through Treasury bonds and 104.7bn/- was through Treasury bills (Chart 2.6.2). Debt service payments during the month amounted to 731.2bn/-, consisting of 454.6bn/- in principal repayments and 276.7bn/- in interest payments.