Beyond the narratives: what the IDR 2025 data reveal about debt in low- and middle-income countries Evis RucajYan Bai February 17, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/beyond-the-narratives--what-the-idr-2025-data-reveal-about-debt- In recent years, discussions around debt in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have often been framed by narratives suggesting that debt challenges stem primarily from excessive borrowing or ineffective policies. While these perspectives reflect real and important concerns, the latest evidence from the International Debt Report (IDR) 2025 points to a more nuanced picture. © 2026 The World Bank Group,