{
  "id": 5985453,
  "title": "Ecuador’s Public Debt Hits 65.7% of the Economy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/ecuadors-public-debt-hits-65-7-of-the-economy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T11:12:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/ecuador-public-debt-65-7-percent-economy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ecuador's public debt has surged to 65.7% of the nation's economy, according to recent government data. The debt figure, equivalent to US$88.8 billion, has been growing faster than the economy for at least the past seven years. Interest payments now account for 3.3% of gross domestic product each year, outpacing recent economic growth. From 2019 to 2026, public debt increased an average of 5.1% annually, while the economy grew by only 3.1% per year. The country's debt is expected to grow to 2-2.3% in 2026, marking a slowdown from 3.7% growth in 2025. The government's spending has consistently exceeded its tax revenue and oil sales, leading to a budget gap of US$5.3 billion in 2025, a 71% increase from the previous year. Oil income dropped by 15% in 2025, providing only one-third of government revenue, with production at its lowest level in over two decades. Despite these challenges, Ecuador has secured a four-year loan program from the International Monetary Fund worth about US$5 billion, with the fund's board increasing its funding review in April 2026. S&P Global Ratings raised Ecuador's credit score in August 2026, citing improved fiscal management, although the country remains rated below investment grade.",
  "summary": "Ecuador public debt hit 65.7% of the economy by mid-2026, growing faster than output as deficits and falling oil revenue pile up. The post Ecuador’s Public Debt Hits 65.7% of the Economy appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}