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Field Listing :: Public debt
This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
Country Comparison to the World
Country
Public debt(% of GDP)
Albania 60.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
58.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Algeria 8.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
8.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover central government debt; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt
Angola 17.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
18.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda 130% of GDP (2010 est.)
90% of GDP (2008 est.)
Argentina 41.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
41.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Armenia 42.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
41.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Aruba 46.3% of GDP (2005)
Australia 26.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
26.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Austria 74.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
72.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: this is general government gross debt, defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year; it covers the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; as a percentage of GDP, the GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product in current year prices
Azerbaijan 5.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
5.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bahrain 56.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
54% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bangladesh 32% of GDP (2012 est.)
33.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Barbados 83.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
79.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Belarus 30% of GDP (2012 est.)
52.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Belgium 101.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
98% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
Belize 90.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
88.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Benin 30.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
31.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bhutan 64% of GDP (2011 est.)
55% of GDP (2010 est.)
Bolivia 34.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
38.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities
Bosnia and Herzegovina 43.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
40.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
Botswana 12.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
13.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Brazil 54.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
54.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bulgaria 17.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
16.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
Burundi 72.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
80.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cameroon 14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
13.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Canada 84.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
87.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: figures are for gross general government debt, as opposed to net federal debt; gross general government debt includes both intragovernmental debt and the debt of public entities at the sub-national level
Cape Verde 83.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
77.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Chad 36.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
43.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Chile 10.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
11.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
China 38.5% of GDP (2011)
43.5% of GDP (2010)
note: official data; data cover both central government debt and local government debt, which China's National Audit Office estimated at RMB 10.72 trillion (approximately US$1.66 trillion)in 2011; data exclude policy bank bonds, Ministry of Railway debt, China Asset Management Company debt, and non-performing loans
Colombia 40.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
43.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities
Congo, Republic of the
Costa Rica 47.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
44.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire 60.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
65% of GDP (2011 est.)
Croatia 66.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
64% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cuba 35.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cyprus 80.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
71.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment
Czech Republic 43.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
41.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Denmark 45.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
46.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Dominica 78% of GDP (2009 est.)
85% of GDP (2006 est.)
Dominican Republic 40% of GDP (2012 est.)
38.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Ecuador 23.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
21.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Egypt 85% of GDP (2012 est.)
83.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
El Salvador 57.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
57.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt.
Equatorial Guinea 4.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
5.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Eritrea 118% of GDP (2012 est.)
118.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Estonia 8% of GDP (2012 est.)
5.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
Ethiopia 44.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
44.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: official data cover central government debt, including debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury and treasury debt owned by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Fiji 47.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
53.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Finland 53.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
49.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
France 89.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
86.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Gabon 23% of GDP (2012 est.)
22.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Georgia 27.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
29.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities; Georgia does not maintain intra-governmental debt or social funds
Germany 80.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
80.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; the series are presented as a percentage of GDP and in millions of euro; GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product at current market prices; data expressed in national currency are converted into euro using end-year exchange rates provided by the European Central Bank
Ghana 47.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
38.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Gibraltar 7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
13.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Greece 161.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
165.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Grenada 110% of GDP (2012 est.)
Guatemala 29.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
29.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Guyana 66.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
62.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Honduras 34.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
32.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Hong Kong 30% of GDP (2012 est.)
39.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Hungary 81.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
80.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and government, state government, local government, and social security funds.
Iceland 118.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
128.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
India 51.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
50.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Indonesia 24.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
24.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Iran 18.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
18.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: includes publicly guaranteed debt
Ireland 118% of GDP (2012 est.)
108.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Israel 74.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
72.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Italy 126.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
120.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: Italy reports its data on public debt according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty; general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year, in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the central government, state government, local government and social security funds
Jamaica 127.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
127.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Japan 218.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
205.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Jordan 59.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
57.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Kazakhstan 15.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Kenya 50% of GDP (2012 est.)
50.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Korea, South 33.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
33.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Kosovo 5.5% of GDP (2011)
6.2% of GDP (2010)
Kuwait 7.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
7.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Laos 48% of GDP (2012 est.)
49.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Latvia 44% of GDP (2012 est.)
43.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
Lebanon 127.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
134% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment
Liberia 4.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
3.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Libya 1.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
4.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Lithuania 36.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
36.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: official data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
Luxembourg 18.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Macedonia 27.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
28.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover Central Government debt
Malawi 47.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
32.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Malaysia 55.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
51.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
note:
Mali 23.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
23.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Malta 77% of GDP (2012 est.)
71.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central government, state government, local government and social security funds
Mauritius 61.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
57.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Mexico 35.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Moldova 18.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
18.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Montenegro 45% of GDP (2011 est.)
38% of GDP (2006 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Morocco 71.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
64.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Mozambique 39.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
34.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Namibia 28.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
26.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Netherlands 68.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
65.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
New Zealand 41.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
36.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Nicaragua 70.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
78.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
Nigeria 18.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Norway 30.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
33.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Oman 3.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
3.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Pakistan 50.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
60.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Panama 37% of GDP (2012 est.)
40% of GDP (2011 est.)
Papua New Guinea 23.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
22.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Paraguay 14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
13.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Peru 18.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
19.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities
Philippines 50.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
50.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Poland 53.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
53.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, the data include subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Portugal 119.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
107.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Qatar 32.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
34% of GDP (2011 est.)
Romania 34.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
33.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
Russia 11% of GDP (2012 est.)
8.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
Rwanda 21.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
24.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis 144% of GDP (2012 est.)
154% of GDP (2011 est.)
Saint Lucia 77% of GDP (2012 est.)
77% of GDP (2010 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 68% of GDP (2011 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe 76.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
74.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Saudi Arabia 12.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Senegal 33.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
32.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Serbia 60% of GDP (2012 est.)
45.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
Seychelles 39.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
44.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Sierra Leone 60.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
80.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Singapore 106.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
118.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: for Singapore, public debt consists largely of Singapore Government Securities (SGS) issued to assist the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which administers Singapore's defined contribution pension fund; special issues of SGS are held by the CPF, and are non-tradable; the government has not borrowed to finance deficit expenditures since the 1980s
Slovakia 48.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
43.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general Government Gross Debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds.
Slovenia 53.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
46.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
South Africa 43.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
38.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Spain 83.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
68.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Sri Lanka 79% of GDP (2012 est.)
79% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments
Sudan 89.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
89.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Sweden 38.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
38.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Switzerland 52.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
54.5% of GDP (2010)
note: general government gross debt; gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future; includes debt liabilities in the form of SDRs, currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable; all liabilities in the GFSM 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options
Syria 44% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Taiwan 39.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
34.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Tanzania 34.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
37.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Thailand 47.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
44.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
Trinidad and Tobago 37.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
38.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Tunisia 52.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
45.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Turkey 40.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
40% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, and excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
Uganda 26.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
27.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Ukraine 38.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
United Arab Emirates 40.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
45.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
United Kingdom 88.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
85% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
United States 73.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
67.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover only what the United States Treasury denotes as "Debt Held by the Public," which includes all debt instruments issued by the Treasury that are owned by non-US Government entities; the data include Treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by individual US states, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of Treasury borrowings from surpluses in the trusts for Federal Social Security, Federal Employees, Hospital Insurance (Medicare and Medicaid), Disability and Unemployment, and several other smaller trusts; if data for intra-government debt were added, "Gross Debt" would increase by about one-third of GDP
Uruguay 57.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
58.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
Uzbekistan 10% of GDP (2012 est.)
8.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Venezuela 49% of GDP (2012 est.)
29% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, as well as the debt of state-owned oil company PDVSA; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include some debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; some debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions.
Vietnam 48.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
48.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Wallis and Futuna 5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
World 65.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
63.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Yemen 42.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
36.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Zambia 31.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
26.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Zimbabwe 202.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
219.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
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For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.