The CIA World Factbook Edition 2013 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 2013 edition carries it in 158 entries, in its Economy section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.

entries in the 2013 edition
158
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.

2013

Every edition with Public debt

Entries with Public debt in each edition

19902000201020202025

Select a bar to open that edition.

World

1 entry

World

64.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • 63.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Africa

39 entries

Algeria

8.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 144
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 135
  • 18.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Benin

31.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 112
  • 31.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Botswana

17.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 134
  • 17.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Burundi

50.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 65
  • 54.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cabo Verde

86.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 21
  • 78.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cameroon

16.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 138
  • 14.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Chad

31.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 116
  • 38.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Congo, Republic of the now Republic of the Congo

31.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 113
  • 16.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire

47.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 70
  • 71.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Egypt

88% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 20
  • 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

Equatorial Guinea

9.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 143
  • 8.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Eritrea

125.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 8
  • 133% of GDP (2011 est.)

Ethiopia

39.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 90
  • 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

Gabon

22.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 126
  • 19.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Ghana

50% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 66
  • 41.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Kenya

52.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 56
  • 53.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Lesotho

NA

Liberia

0.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 155
  • 0.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Libya

4.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 154
  • 12% of GDP (2011 est.)

Malawi

62.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 42
  • 40.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Mali

27.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 120
  • 27.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Mauritius

57.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 50
  • 58.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Morocco

71.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 35
  • 64.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Mozambique

42.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 82
  • 39.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Namibia

25.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 123
  • 26.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Nigeria

17.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 132
  • 17.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Rwanda

21.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 128
  • 23.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

75.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 33
  • 73.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Senegal

38.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 92
  • 35.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Seychelles

68.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 39
  • 74.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Sierra Leone

36.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 100
  • 41.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

South Africa

42.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 81
  • 39.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Sudan

101.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 14
  • 96.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Tanzania

41.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 84
  • 40.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Tunisia

46.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 73
  • 44% of GDP (2011 est.)

Uganda

26.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 122
  • 23.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Zambia

29.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 118
  • 29.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Zimbabwe

244.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 1
  • 180.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Arctic Region

1 entry

Iceland

131.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 6
  • 133.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Asia

14 entries

Armenia

41.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 86
  • 42.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Azerbaijan

7.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

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

Bangladesh

32.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 111
  • 34.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Bhutan

44.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 78
  • 46.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

China

31.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 114
  • 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

Georgia

36.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 101
  • 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

India

51.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 63
  • 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

Japan

219.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 2
  • 210.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Kazakhstan

13.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 140
  • 12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Korea, South now South Korea

35.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 106
  • 36.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Pakistan

52.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 59
  • 48.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Russia

7.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 146
  • 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

Sri Lanka

79.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 29
  • 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

Uzbekistan

6.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 148
  • 8.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Central America and the Caribbean

21 entries

Anguilla

21.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 127
  • 20.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

89% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 18
  • 130% of GDP (2010 est.)

Aruba

46.3% of GDP (2005)

  • country comparison to the world: 72

Barbados

85.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 23
  • 79.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Belize

84.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 25
  • 87.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Costa Rica

51.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 62
  • 46.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cuba

35.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 103
  • 36.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Dominica

70% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 37
  • 78% of GDP (2009 est.)

Dominican Republic

41.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 85
  • 39% of GDP (2011 est.)

El Salvador

59.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 46
  • 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

Grenada

110% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 13

Guatemala

29.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 117
  • 28.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Honduras

35.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 102
  • 33.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Jamaica

132.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 5
  • 131.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Nicaragua

58.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 49
  • 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

Panama

39.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 91
  • 40.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Puerto Rico

93.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 16
  • 89.9% 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

37.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 95
  • 39.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Europe

39 entries

Albania

58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 47
  • 58.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Austria

75.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 31
  • 74.1% 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

31.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 115
  • 48.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Belgium

99.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 15
  • 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

Bosnia and Herzegovina

43.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 79
  • 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

16.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 137
  • 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

53.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 52
  • 47.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Czech Republic now Czechia

45.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 74
  • 41% of GDP (2011 est.)

Denmark

45.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 76
  • 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

Estonia

5.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 150
  • 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

53.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 55
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 17
  • 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

Germany

81% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 27
  • 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

Gibraltar

7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 147
  • 13.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Greece

156.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 3
  • 170.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Hungary

79.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 28
  • 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.

Ireland

117.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 11
  • 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

Italy

126.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 7
  • 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

Kosovo

5.5% of GDP (2011)

  • country comparison to the world: 152
  • 6.2% of GDP (2010)

Latvia

40.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 88
  • 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

Lithuania

41% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 87
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 130
  • 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

Malta

71.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 34
  • 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

Moldova

17.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 133
  • 18.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Montenegro

52.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 60
  • 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

Netherlands

71.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 36
  • 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

Macedonia now North Macedonia

34% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 107
  • 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

Norway

29.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 119
  • 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

Poland

48.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 68
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 9
  • 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

Romania

37.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 98
  • 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

Serbia

62% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 43
  • 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

Slovakia

52.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 61
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 71
  • 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

Spain

84.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 26
  • 69.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Sweden

38.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 93
  • 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.)

  • country comparison to the world: 57
  • 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

36.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 99
  • 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 Kingdom

88.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 19
  • 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

Middle East

14 entries

Bahrain

54.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 51
  • 48% of GDP (2011 est.)

Cyprus

85.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 22
  • 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

Iran

18.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 131
  • 13.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

note: includes publicly guaranteed debt

Israel

66.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 41
  • 68.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Jordan

75.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 32
  • 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

Kuwait

6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 149
  • 7.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Lebanon

119.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 10
  • 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

Oman

4.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 153
  • 4.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Qatar

32.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 109
  • 34.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Saudi Arabia

11.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 142
  • 11.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Syria

52.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 58
  • 35.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Turkey now Turkiye

37.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 97
  • 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

42.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 80
  • 45.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Yemen

41.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 83
  • 35.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

North America

3 entries

Canada

85.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 24
  • 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

Mexico

35.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 104
  • 35.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

United States

70% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 38
  • 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

Oceania

5 entries

Australia

32.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 110
  • 27.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Fiji

53.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 53
  • 52.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

New Zealand

38.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 94
  • 35.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Papua New Guinea

25.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 124
  • 24.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 151

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

South America

11 entries

Argentina

44.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 77
  • 41.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Bolivia

34% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 108
  • 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

Brazil

58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 48
  • 54.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Chile

11.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 141
  • 11.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Colombia

40.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 89
  • 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

Ecuador

21% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 129
  • 17.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Guyana

59.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 44
  • 65.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Paraguay

14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 139
  • 12.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Peru

16.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 136
  • 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

59.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 45
  • 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.

Venezuela

26.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 121
  • 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

Southeast Asia

10 entries

Cambodia

NA% of GDP

Hong Kong

37.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 96
  • 39% of GDP (2011 est.)

Indonesia

23% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 125
  • 22.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Laos

49.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 67
  • 49.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Malaysia

53.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 54
  • 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

Philippines

51.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 64
  • 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

Singapore

111.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 12
  • 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

Taiwan

35.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 105
  • 34.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

note: data for central government

Thailand

45.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 75
  • 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

Vietnam

48.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

  • country comparison to the world: 69
  • 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

Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2013, “Public debt”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/public-debt/2013.

How to cite