Government debt by country
How much the central government owes, compared with the economy. Central government debt, % of GDP.
- World median53.2%2024 · 34 countries
- Highest: Singapore167.8%2024
- Lowest: Somalia12.7%2024
- Below 30%
- 30% to 60%
- 60% to 90%
- 90% to 120%
- 120% or more
- No data
Swipe sideways to see the whole map.
Each shade is one band of the legend, from the least to the most debt. Many countries publish no figure in this form. Portugal is outlined. Small countries are shown as dots.
Portugal publishes no figure for this measure in the World Bank's data.
What it is
This is everything a country's central government owes (bonds, loans and other debts) as a share of one year's GDP. Debt of 100% of GDP means the government owes as much as the whole economy produces in a year. It covers the central government only, so for some countries it differs from the 'general government' debt quoted in the EU.
Why it matters
Governments borrow to pay for things now and repay later. How much a country can safely owe depends on its interest rates, its growth and whether it borrows in its own currency. High debt can mean higher taxes or spending cuts later, and lenders may ask for higher interest.
What moves it
Budget deficits add to debt each year; economic growth and inflation make an existing debt smaller compared with the economy. Recessions, bank rescues and wars push it up quickly.
The euro area
The 21 countries that use the euro, highest first. Their rank is among all countries. No recent figure for Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia.
| # | Country | Government debt | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Spain€ | 105.6% | 2024 |
Full ranking
All 44 countries with a figure from 2022 or later, highest first. Select a column heading to sort.
| Region | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | East Asia & Pacific | 167.8% | 2024 |
| 2 | United Kingdom | Europe & Central Asia | 130.7% | 2024 |
| 3 | United States | North America | 115.8% | 2024 |
| 4 | El Salvador | Latin America & Caribbean | 107.3% | 2024 |
| 5 | Spain€ | Europe & Central Asia | 105.6% | 2024 |
| 6 | San Marino | Europe & Central Asia | 99.9% | 2023 |
| 7 | Jordan | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 93.6% | 2023 |
| 8 | South Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa | 82.8% | 2024 |
| 9 | Hungary | Europe & Central Asia | 82.0% | 2024 |
| 10 | Brazil | Latin America & Caribbean | 81.9% | 2024 |
| 11 | Iceland | Europe & Central Asia | 80.1% | 2023 |
| 12 | Mozambique | Sub-Saharan Africa | 71.8% | 2024 |
| 13 | Bahamas | Latin America & Caribbean | 71.5% | 2024 |
| 14 | Colombia | Latin America & Caribbean | 71.2% | 2024 |
| 15 | Vanuatu | East Asia & Pacific | 67.9% | 2023 |
| 16 | Uruguay | Latin America & Caribbean | 65.3% | 2024 |
| 17 | Malaysia | East Asia & Pacific | 64.6% | 2024 |
| 18 | Burkina Faso | Sub-Saharan Africa | 64.2% | 2024 |
| 19 | Canada | North America | 64.1% | 2024 |
| 20 | Thailand | East Asia & Pacific | 61.9% | 2024 |
| 21 | Malawi | Sub-Saharan Africa | 61.8% | 2023 |
| 22 | Australia | East Asia & Pacific | 57.9% | 2022 |
| 23 | Uganda | Sub-Saharan Africa | 54.4% | 2024 |
| 24 | Papua New Guinea | East Asia & Pacific | 52.0% | 2024 |
| 25 | New Zealand | East Asia & Pacific | 52.0% | 2024 |
| 26 | Cambodia | East Asia & Pacific | 50.3% | 2023 |
| 27 | Mexico | Latin America & Caribbean | 50.3% | 2024 |
| 28 | Albania | Europe & Central Asia | 50.0% | 2024 |
| 29 | Armenia | Europe & Central Asia | 47.9% | 2024 |
| 30 | South Korea | East Asia & Pacific | 47.8% | 2024 |
| 31 | Mongolia | East Asia & Pacific | 43.3% | 2024 |
| 32 | Georgia | Europe & Central Asia | 40.1% | 2024 |
| 33 | Andorra | Europe & Central Asia | 40.0% | 2024 |
| 34 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Europe & Central Asia | 39.7% | 2024 |
| 35 | Kyrgyzstan | Europe & Central Asia | 38.7% | 2024 |
| 36 | Moldova | Europe & Central Asia | 37.5% | 2024 |
| 37 | Solomon Islands | East Asia & Pacific | 26.0% | 2024 |
| 38 | Türkiye | Europe & Central Asia | 25.5% | 2024 |
| 39 | Switzerland | Europe & Central Asia | 22.3% | 2024 |
| 40 | Kazakhstan | Europe & Central Asia | 20.9% | 2023 |
| 41 | Botswana | Sub-Saharan Africa | 19.8% | 2023 |
| 42 | Russia | Europe & Central Asia | 17.9% | 2024 |
| 43 | DR Congo | Sub-Saharan Africa | 14.9% | 2022 |
| 44 | Somalia | Sub-Saharan Africa | 12.7% | 2024 |
Where the numbers come from
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original source: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.