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 58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
58.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Algeria 8.3% 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 17.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
18.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Anguilla 21.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
20.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda 89% of GDP (2012 est.)
130% of GDP (2010 est.)
Argentina 44.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
41.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Armenia 41.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
42.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Aruba 46.3% of GDP (2005)
Australia 32.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
27.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Austria 74.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
72.8% 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 7.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
7.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bahrain 54.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
48% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bangladesh 32.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
34.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Barbados 85.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
79.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Belarus 31.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
48.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Belgium 99.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
97.8% 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; general government debt is defined by the Maastricht definition and calculated by the National Bank of Belgium as consolidated gross debt; the debt is defined in European Regulation EC479/2009 concerning the implementation of the protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty on European Union (Treaty of Maastricht) of 7 February 1992; the sub-sectors of consolidated gross debt are: federal government, communities and regions, local government, and social security funds
Belize 84.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
87.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Benin 31.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
31.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bhutan 44.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
46.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bolivia 34% of GDP (2012 est.)
36.5% of GDP (2011 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 17.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Brazil 58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
54.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Bulgaria 16.3% 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 50.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
54.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cabo Verde 86.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
78.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cambodia NA% of GDP
Cameroon 16.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
14.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Canada 85.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
83.5% 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
Chad 31.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
38.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Chile 11.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
11.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
China 31.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
38.5% of GDP (2011)
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 40.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
42.9% 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
Congo, Republic of the 31.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
16.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Costa Rica 51.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
46.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire 47.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
71.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Croatia 53.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
47.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cuba 35.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
36.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Cyprus 85.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
71.1% 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 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 45.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
41% of GDP (2011 est.)
Denmark 45.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
46.4% 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
Dominica 70% of GDP (2012 est.)
78% of GDP (2009 est.)
Dominican Republic 41.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
39% of GDP (2011 est.)
Ecuador 21% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Egypt 88% of GDP (2012 est.)
84.3% 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 59.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
53.6% 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 9.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
8.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Eritrea 125.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
133% of GDP (2011 est.)
Estonia 5.8% 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 39.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
47% 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 53.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
52.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Finland 53.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
49.3% 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
France 90.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
85.8% 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
Gabon 22.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
19.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Georgia 36.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
36.5% 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 81% of GDP (2012 est.)
80.1% 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-of-year exchange rates provided by the European Central Bank
Ghana 50% of GDP (2012 est.)
41.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Gibraltar 7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
13.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Greece 156.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
170.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Grenada 110% of GDP (2012 est.)
Guatemala 29.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
28.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Guyana 59.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
65.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Honduras 35.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
33.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Hong Kong 37.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
39% of GDP (2011 est.)
Hungary 79.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
81.4% 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 131.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
133.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
India 51.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
51.3% 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 23% of GDP (2012 est.)
22.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Iran 18.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
13.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: includes publicly guaranteed debt
Ireland 117.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
106.4% 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
Israel 66.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
68.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Italy 126.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
120.7% 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 132.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
131.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Japan 219.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
210.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Jordan 75.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
65.5% 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 13.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Kenya 52.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
53.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Korea, South 35.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
36.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Kosovo 5.5% of GDP (2011)
6.2% of GDP (2010)
Kuwait 6% of GDP (2012 est.)
7.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Laos 49.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
49.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Latvia 40.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
41.9% 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
Lebanon 119.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
133.2% 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
Lesotho NA
Liberia 0.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Libya 4.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
12% of GDP (2011 est.)
Lithuania 41% of GDP (2012 est.)
39.3% 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 20.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
18.3% 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
Macedonia 34% of GDP (2012 est.)
27.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: official data from Ministry of Finance; data cover central government debt; this data excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; includes treasury debt held by foreign entitites; excludes debt issued by sub-national entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds
Malawi 62.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
40.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Malaysia 53.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
51.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: this figure is based on the amount of federal government debt, RM501.6 billion ($167.2 billion) in 2012; this includes Malaysian Treasury bills and other government securities, as well as loans raised externally and bonds and notes issued overseas; this figure excludes debt issued by non-financial public enterprises and guaranteed by the federal government, which was an additional $47.7 billion in 2012
Mali 27.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
27.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Malta 71.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
69.5% 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 57.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
58.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Mexico 35.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Moldova 17.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
18.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Montenegro 52.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
45% 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
Morocco 71.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
64.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Mozambique 42.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
39.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Namibia 25.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
26.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Netherlands 71.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
65.4% 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
New Zealand 38.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Nicaragua 58.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
61.4% 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, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; Nicaragua rebased its GDP figures in 2012, which reduced the figures for debt as a percentage of GDP
Nigeria 17.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Norway 29.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
28.4% 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 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 4.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
4.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Pakistan 52.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
48.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Panama 39.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
40.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Papua New Guinea 25.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
24.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Paraguay 14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
12.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
Peru 16.6% 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 51.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
51% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover debt issued by the national government, and excludes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by social security institutions, government-owned and controlled corporations, the Central Bank, and local government units
Poland 48.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
49.1% 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 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 123.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
108.3% 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
Puerto Rico 93.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
89.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Qatar 32.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
34.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Romania 37.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
32.4% 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 7.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
8.1% 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
Rwanda 21.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
23.6% 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 75.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
73.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Saudi Arabia 11.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
11.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Senegal 38.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Serbia 62% of GDP (2012 est.)
48.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued or owned by government entities other than the treasury (for which the GOS issued guarantees); the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities (for which the GOS issued guarantees), 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 68.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
74.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Sierra Leone 36.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
41.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Singapore 111.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
106% 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 52.1% 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 47.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
41.9% 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 42.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
39.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Spain 84.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
69.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Sri Lanka 79.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
78.4% 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 101.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
96.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Sweden 38.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
38.6% 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
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 52.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Taiwan 35.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
34.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: data for central government
Tanzania 41.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
40.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Thailand 45.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
40.3% 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 sold at public auctions
Trinidad and Tobago 37.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
39.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Tunisia 46.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
44% of GDP (2011 est.)
Turkey 37.6% 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 26.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
23.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Ukraine 36.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
36.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: the total public debt of $64.5 billion consists of: domestic public debt ($23.8 billion); external public debt ($26.1 billion); and sovereign guarantees ($14.6 billion)
United Arab Emirates 42.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
45.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
United Kingdom 88.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
84.3% 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
United States 70% of GDP (2012 est.)
65.8% 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 59.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
60% 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 6.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
8.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Venezuela 26.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
25.1% 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 48.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
48.8% 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; 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.)
note: offical 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; 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
World 64.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
63.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Yemen 41.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
35.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Zambia 29.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
29.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Zimbabwe 244.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
180.6% of GDP (2011 est.)