The CIA World Factbook Edition 2012 Economy

Public debt In 22 editions of 36.

Public debt was published in 22 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 2004 to 2025. The 2012 edition carries it in 153 entries, in its Economy section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.

entries in the 2012 edition
153
the first edition with it
2004
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Public debt” (2004 to 2025).

the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach entry below ends in its editions with Public debt, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.

Entries with Public debt in each edition

19902000201020202025

Select a bar to open that edition.

World

1 entry

World

65.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • 63.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Africa

37 entries

Algeria

8.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 142
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 133
  • 18.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Benin

30.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 112
  • 31.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Botswana

12.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 138
  • 13.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Burundi

72.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 36
  • 80.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cape Verde now Cabo Verde

83.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 24
  • 77.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cameroon

14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 136
  • 13.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Chad

36.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 98
  • 43.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire

60.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 46
  • 65% of GDP (2011 est.)

Egypt

85% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 20
  • 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

Equatorial Guinea

4.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 150
  • 5.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Eritrea

118% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 11
  • 118.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Ethiopia

44.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 76
  • 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

Gabon

23% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 125
  • 22.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Ghana

47.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 71
  • 38.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Kenya

50% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 63
  • 50.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Liberia

4.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 149
  • 3.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Libya

1.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 152
  • 4.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Malawi

47.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 72
  • 32.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Mali

23.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 124
  • 23.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Mauritius

61.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 44
  • 57.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Morocco

71.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 37
  • 64.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Mozambique

39.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 90
  • 34.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Namibia

28.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 116
  • 26.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Nigeria

18.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 128
  • 17.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Rwanda

21.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 126
  • 24.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

76.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 32
  • 74.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Senegal

33.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 107
  • 32.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Seychelles

39.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 91
  • 44.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Sierra Leone

60.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 45
  • 80.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

South Africa

43.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 81
  • 38.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Sudan

89.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 17
  • 89.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Tanzania

34.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 104
  • 37.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Tunisia

52.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 59
  • 45.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Uganda

26.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 120
  • 27.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Zambia

31.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 110
  • 26.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Zimbabwe

202.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 2
  • 219.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Arctic Region

1 entry

Iceland

118.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 10
  • 128.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Asia

14 entries

Armenia

42.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 83
  • 41.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Azerbaijan

5.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 148
  • 5.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Bangladesh

32% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 109
  • 33.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Bhutan

64% of GDP (2011 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 43
  • 55% of GDP (2010 est.)

China

38.5% of GDP (2011)

  • country comparison to the world: 95
  • 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

Georgia

27.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 117
  • 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

India

51.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 60
  • 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

Japan

218.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 1
  • 205.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Kazakhstan

15.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 134
  • 12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Korea, South now South Korea

33.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 106
  • 33.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Pakistan

50.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 62
  • 60.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Russia

11% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 139
  • 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.

Sri Lanka

79% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 28
  • 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

Uzbekistan

10% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 141
  • 8.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Central America and the Caribbean

19 entries

Antigua and Barbuda

130% of GDP (2010 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 5
  • 90% of GDP (2008 est.)

Aruba

46.3% of GDP (2005)

  • country comparison to the world: 73

Barbados

83.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 23
  • 79.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Belize

90.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 16
  • 88.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Costa Rica

47.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 70
  • 44.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cuba

35.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 101
  • 35.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Dominica

78% of GDP (2009 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 29
  • 85% of GDP (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic

40% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 89
  • 38.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

El Salvador

57.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 50
  • 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.

Grenada

110% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 13

Guatemala

29.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 115
  • 29.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Honduras

34.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 103
  • 32.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Jamaica

127.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 7
  • 127.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Nicaragua

70.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 38
  • 78.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Panama

37% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 97
  • 40% of GDP (2011 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

144% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 4
  • 154% of GDP (2011 est.)

Saint Lucia

77% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 30
  • 77% of GDP (2010 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

68% of GDP (2011 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 40

Trinidad and Tobago

37.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 96
  • 38.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Europe

39 entries

Albania

60.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 47
  • 58.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Austria

74.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 34
  • 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

Belarus

30% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 114
  • 52.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Belgium

101.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 15
  • 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.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

43.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 80
  • 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.

Bulgaria

17.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 132
  • 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

Croatia

66.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 41
  • 64% of GDP (2011 est.)

Czech Republic now Czechia

43.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 79
  • 41.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Denmark

45.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 74
  • 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

Estonia

8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 143
  • 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

Finland

53.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 56
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 18
  • 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

Germany

80.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 27
  • 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

Gibraltar

7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 144
  • 13.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Greece

161.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 3
  • 165.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Hungary

81.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 25
  • 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.

Ireland

118% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 12
  • 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

Italy

126.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 8
  • 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

Kosovo

5.5% of GDP (2011)

  • country comparison to the world: 147
  • 6.2% of GDP (2010)

Latvia

44% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 78
  • 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

Lithuania

36.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 99
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 129
  • 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

Malta

77% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 31
  • 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

Moldova

18.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 131
  • 18.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Montenegro

45% of GDP (2011 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 75
  • 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

Netherlands

68.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 39
  • 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.

Macedonia now North Macedonia

27.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 118
  • 28.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

note: data cover Central Government debt

Norway

30.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 111
  • 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

Poland

53.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 55
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 9
  • 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

Romania

34.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 102
  • 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

Serbia

60% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 48
  • 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.

Slovakia

48.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 65
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 57
  • 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

Spain

83.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 22
  • 68.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Sweden

38.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 94
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 58
  • 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

Ukraine

38.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 93
  • 35.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

United Kingdom

88.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 19
  • 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

Middle East

14 entries

Bahrain

56.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 52
  • 54% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cyprus

80.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 26
  • 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

Iran

18.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 127
  • 18.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

note: includes publicly guaranteed debt

Israel

74.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 33
  • 72.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Jordan

59.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 49
  • 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

Kuwait

7.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 145
  • 7.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Lebanon

127.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 6
  • 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

Oman

3.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 151
  • 3.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Qatar

32.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 108
  • 34% of GDP (2011 est.)

Saudi Arabia

12.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 137
  • 12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Syria

44% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 77
  • 35.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Turkey now Turkiye

40.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 87
  • 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

United Arab Emirates

40.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 86
  • 45.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Yemen

42.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 82
  • 36.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

North America

3 entries

Canada

84.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 21
  • 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

Mexico

35.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 100
  • 35.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

United States

73.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 35
  • 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

Oceania

5 entries

Australia

26.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 119
  • 26.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Fiji

47.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 68
  • 53.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

New Zealand

41.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 84
  • 36.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Papua New Guinea

23.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 123
  • 22.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 146

South America

11 entries

Argentina

41.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 85
  • 41.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Bolivia

34.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 105
  • 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

Brazil

54.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 54
  • 54.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Chile

10.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 140
  • 11.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Colombia

40.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 88
  • 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

Ecuador

23.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 122
  • 21.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Guyana

66.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 42
  • 62.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Paraguay

14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 135
  • 13.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Peru

18.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 130
  • 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

Uruguay

57.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 51
  • 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.

Venezuela

49% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 64
  • 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.

Southeast Asia

9 entries

Hong Kong

30% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 113
  • 39.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Indonesia

24.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 121
  • 24.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Laos

48% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 67
  • 49.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Malaysia

55.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 53
  • 51.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

note:

Philippines

50.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 61
  • 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

Singapore

106.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 14
  • 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

Taiwan

39.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 92
  • 34.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Thailand

47.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 69
  • 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

Vietnam

48.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 66
  • 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

Cite this page

Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2012, “Public debt”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/public-debt/2012.

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