Ottoman Public Debt Administration

The Ottoman Public Debt Administration was an institution established in 1881 to manage and oversee the empire's national debt. Created under European influence, it operated independently from the Ottoman government, collecting revenue (primarily from taxes) to pay interest and repay foreign creditors. Its purpose was to ensure debt repayment and stabilize the empire’s finances, but it also increased European control over Ottoman economic affairs. The administration marked a shift toward financial sovereignty loss and exemplifies the empire’s reliance on external financial institutions during its decline.