Japan is the top country by government gross debt as a share of GDP in the world. As of 2021, government gross debt as a share of GDP in Japan was 262.5 %. The top 5 countries also includes Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Greece, Sudan, and Eritrea.

The description is composed by our digital data assistant.

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. This includes debt liabilities in the form of SDRs, currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable. Thus, all liabilities in the GFSM 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options. Debt can be valued at current market, nominal, or face values (GFSM 2001, paragraph 7.110).

General government gross debt as a share of GDP (%)

199020002005201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Japan63.0135.6174.3205.7219.1226.1229.6233.5228.4232.5231.4232.3236.3259.4262.5
Venezuela27.734.937.752.558.485.484.8129.8138.4133.6174.5201.4319.1240.5
Greece73.8105.8108.3147.5184.0162.1178.8181.8179.1183.7183.2190.7185.6212.4199.4
Sudan143.275.574.678.1117.7105.884.493.2109.9149.5186.7200.3263.4182.0
Eritrea219.1205.3198.4160.8154.6187.0136.6180.7167.5202.5185.6187.1179.7176.3
Singapore73.582.392.798.7103.1106.798.297.7102.2106.6107.7109.4128.2152.0159.9
Italy101.1109.0106.6119.2119.7126.5132.5135.4135.3134.8134.2134.4134.1155.3150.9
Cabo Verde82.685.372.578.591.1102.5115.9126.6128.4127.2114.6114.0145.1142.3
Barbados61.373.3108.2112.6123.7135.2139.3147.0149.5158.3126.0123.2147.0135.4
Bhutan47.785.161.069.179.396.898.898.6112.4111.7113.4106.5130.9132.4
Bahrain7.525.724.230.032.836.243.944.466.281.388.194.6101.6129.7128.5
United States65.595.299.5103.1104.6104.6105.2107.2106.2107.5108.8134.5128.1
Portugal60.254.272.2100.2114.4129.0131.4132.9131.2131.5126.1121.5116.6135.2127.4
Suriname72.935.727.117.318.720.127.925.241.174.871.566.185.2146.1125.7
Maldives39.043.252.751.957.155.955.154.962.364.672.078.8154.4124.8
Zambia261.075.718.920.825.427.136.165.861.666.380.599.7140.2119.1
Spain42.557.842.460.569.990.0100.5105.1103.3102.8101.9100.598.3120.0118.6
Canada73.780.470.681.281.885.486.185.691.291.888.988.987.2117.8112.9
France35.658.967.485.387.890.693.494.995.698.098.197.897.4114.7112.6
Belgium130.3109.695.1100.3103.5104.8105.5107.0105.2105.0102.099.897.7112.8108.4
Mozambique100.562.439.634.737.450.164.387.4126.2104.2106.799.0120.0106.4
Republic of Congo0.0145.099.843.534.430.233.942.374.291.094.277.184.8114.0103.6
Cyprus56.064.055.565.079.4102.9109.1107.2103.192.998.491.1115.0103.6
The Bahamas13.219.223.033.935.337.644.147.549.851.054.561.959.775.0103.3
Sri Lanka78.979.276.668.769.467.569.569.676.375.072.383.682.695.7103.1
Dominica54.168.982.066.869.773.173.972.168.976.584.085.697.9114.5102.7
Antigua and Barbuda98.1105.192.689.791.887.595.8101.499.186.192.287.781.3101.5101.4
United Kingdom28.536.639.474.079.582.783.685.586.085.885.184.583.9102.695.3
Mauritius57.759.155.155.755.157.560.665.065.064.366.284.699.293.6
Lao P.D.R.73.249.343.046.149.553.553.154.557.259.762.082.793.5
Brazil65.668.663.061.262.260.262.372.678.383.685.687.998.793.0
Jamaica91.8124.7141.4139.5143.9138.7137.9121.9113.7101.294.494.3108.192.3
St. Lucia17.133.451.452.255.060.261.261.960.660.360.060.462.196.992.2
Jordan222.099.373.859.462.170.575.675.078.477.476.075.178.088.091.9
Egypt71.798.369.672.873.884.084.086.193.297.888.080.185.389.2
San Marino14.520.016.617.223.221.019.321.556.757.257.471.689.2
St. Vincent and the Grenadines55.354.250.561.164.067.870.075.175.179.468.769.468.179.288.4
Montenegro38.645.048.656.958.763.468.866.466.271.978.8107.386.6
Angola133.933.537.229.626.733.139.857.175.769.393.0113.6136.586.4
India73.681.066.468.668.067.767.169.068.969.770.475.189.284.2
The Gambia73.382.642.949.249.558.271.169.480.987.083.683.085.983.8
Fiji35.945.353.451.048.647.446.244.344.643.445.848.863.183.0
Austria55.965.768.382.482.281.781.083.884.482.578.674.070.683.382.9
El Salvador29.646.360.059.263.663.265.367.068.870.570.471.389.482.4
Belize75.269.066.863.762.761.564.970.878.279.579.0104.582.2
Ghana19.280.234.034.531.335.442.950.153.955.957.062.062.779.182.1
Tunisia62.950.043.447.051.846.750.755.260.569.174.869.082.881.8
Argentina40.880.343.538.940.443.544.752.653.157.085.288.8102.880.9
Bolivia66.982.237.635.335.436.137.640.946.551.353.159.378.080.5
Croatia33.140.957.263.669.480.383.883.379.876.773.371.187.379.8
Mongolia31.032.743.749.457.162.887.6102.890.779.297.479.8
Sierra Leone130.946.842.036.430.635.147.660.769.269.172.576.379.3
Guinea-Bissau217.1203.761.744.846.648.958.454.957.750.757.964.076.578.5
Hungary55.760.280.280.478.477.476.775.874.872.169.165.579.676.8
Pakistan68.452.354.552.856.757.957.157.060.860.964.877.579.674.9
Iceland35.575.868.9133.1138.2133.9122.0115.297.282.471.663.166.277.274.6
Slovenia25.926.438.346.553.670.080.382.678.574.270.365.479.674.4
Albania63.858.257.759.462.170.472.073.773.371.969.567.375.973.9
Senegal57.536.134.632.934.536.942.444.547.561.161.563.669.273.2
Seychelles80.4177.8144.182.282.580.168.270.465.366.160.355.954.284.872.9
São Tomé and Príncipe295.779.578.081.071.269.585.895.385.893.971.681.472.4
Namibia20.926.916.327.524.626.127.642.145.843.850.459.466.672.0
China23.026.333.933.834.437.040.041.548.251.753.857.268.171.5
Grenada41.687.396.2102.8101.5105.499.390.181.670.464.058.571.470.3
Yemen60.843.842.445.747.348.248.757.072.377.474.576.584.069.7
Germany59.367.582.079.480.778.375.371.969.064.661.358.968.069.6
Malaysia74.132.540.851.251.953.855.755.457.055.854.455.657.167.769.0
South Africa37.929.631.234.737.440.443.345.247.148.651.756.269.069.0
Morocco70.564.954.845.348.652.357.158.658.460.160.360.560.372.268.9
Costa Rica38.937.328.129.533.735.137.439.844.147.151.856.467.268.2
Israel77.485.469.367.467.166.064.963.161.459.759.958.870.768.0
Kenya43.137.436.735.737.639.841.345.850.453.956.459.168.067.8
Zimbabwe33.147.642.938.336.942.247.549.174.151.093.2102.566.9
Rwanda86.059.018.818.719.126.128.332.436.641.344.949.865.666.6
Burundi136.4137.046.942.741.437.938.039.946.146.953.060.066.066.6
Finland13.942.439.946.948.353.656.259.863.663.261.259.859.669.066.2
Gabon90.072.549.321.321.421.431.134.144.764.262.960.959.878.365.8
Uruguay40.841.649.850.150.857.855.856.758.361.068.365.1
South Sudan0.08.917.637.659.3104.060.746.328.136.464.7
Colombia38.038.536.535.834.037.643.350.449.849.453.652.465.764.6
Malawi70.919.320.028.635.333.535.537.140.343.945.354.863.9
Togo63.134.335.135.642.446.553.360.156.657.052.460.363.7
St. Kitts and Nevis96.5156.8141.7132.1122.691.072.364.557.455.853.651.556.863.4
Slovak Republic50.534.740.843.351.954.953.751.852.451.649.648.159.763.1
Dominican Republic16.738.337.339.142.346.744.944.946.648.950.553.671.563.1
Algeria58.026.310.59.39.37.17.78.720.426.838.346.052.363.0
Oman17.821.78.45.54.44.64.74.013.929.340.144.752.569.762.9
Myanmar158.7114.852.547.936.536.135.236.438.338.540.438.839.362.3
Ecuador34.718.118.518.723.328.035.244.647.049.151.460.962.2
Kyrgyz Republic123.385.759.750.150.547.153.667.159.158.854.851.667.661.1
Trinidad and Tobago49.540.619.820.328.924.624.723.527.137.041.541.845.459.360.6
Armenia39.620.533.835.735.636.339.444.151.953.751.250.163.560.2
Iraq227.353.540.734.832.032.956.967.059.148.645.284.259.1
Panama55.861.740.537.836.035.636.636.035.335.337.341.965.658.4
Australia16.419.510.920.424.127.530.534.037.840.641.241.846.757.258.4
Thailand57.845.539.839.141.942.243.342.641.741.841.941.149.558.4
Qatar12.651.619.130.433.532.130.924.935.546.751.652.262.172.658.4
Serbia224.851.341.244.054.457.667.674.770.460.155.653.658.757.9
Mexico40.338.542.042.942.745.948.952.856.754.053.653.360.157.6
Philippines59.264.747.645.445.743.840.239.637.338.137.137.051.657.0
Malta63.969.965.570.066.666.462.156.354.747.843.740.753.456.4
Chad68.028.530.130.628.830.638.242.550.048.748.452.354.256.0
Ireland36.426.186.2110.5119.6120.0104.376.774.367.663.057.258.455.3
Poland36.446.653.554.754.456.551.151.354.250.648.845.657.153.8
Lesotho17.887.648.734.136.439.841.241.545.740.640.049.050.554.253.5
North Macedonia45.636.724.327.733.734.038.038.139.839.440.440.451.953.2
Liberia468.1488.525.422.520.520.624.324.828.631.837.148.558.753.2
Madagascar92.790.274.432.329.930.436.237.844.140.340.142.940.650.853.1
Ethiopia93.678.238.944.639.444.144.250.751.855.358.454.753.753.0
Burkina Faso39.227.822.523.223.824.931.133.433.337.842.546.452.4
Netherlands75.150.948.559.461.866.467.868.064.661.956.952.448.554.652.3
Côte d'Ivoire74.058.245.650.024.724.626.729.231.433.235.638.447.652.1
Mali90.546.625.324.025.426.426.930.736.036.037.540.747.351.9
Uganda48.542.618.418.019.522.124.828.531.033.634.937.646.351.8
Mauritania124.183.943.938.839.340.048.558.756.654.857.955.755.851.7
Romania29.617.830.834.338.039.140.439.439.036.836.536.849.651.4
Korea13.216.725.929.533.135.037.739.740.841.240.140.042.148.751.3
Niger82.149.515.114.718.119.622.129.932.836.539.439.845.051.2
Papua New Guinea42.331.617.316.319.124.926.929.933.732.536.740.247.150.9
New Zealand55.530.020.829.734.735.734.634.234.233.431.128.131.843.250.8
Honduras236.565.855.621.724.626.937.135.038.339.441.342.442.952.450.2
Benin39.627.021.021.919.518.522.330.935.939.641.141.246.149.9
Georgia58.535.331.928.428.829.530.936.740.339.438.940.460.249.5
Nicaragua95.266.630.328.827.928.828.728.930.934.137.741.748.149.4
Vanuatu36.126.320.221.319.318.620.337.743.752.645.345.147.548.2
Puerto Rico48.350.053.752.354.552.749.951.250.448.950.247.9
Central African Republic94.7103.019.919.731.551.862.259.853.950.350.047.143.447.6
Ukraine43.817.740.636.937.540.570.379.579.571.660.450.560.647.6
Tonga43.643.344.751.954.449.047.551.249.444.745.941.343.647.5
Samoa55.834.240.341.550.954.154.956.449.046.749.444.343.246.3
Djibouti27.925.725.124.626.940.345.948.048.142.044.046.0
Nepal50.845.135.432.434.531.927.625.725.025.030.133.142.445.8
Latvia14.711.546.544.542.740.441.637.140.439.037.136.743.345.7
Cameroon75.943.814.015.014.917.520.731.632.136.538.341.644.945.5
Eswatini17.713.213.814.214.414.713.919.324.927.633.939.541.445.0
Lithuania23.517.636.237.139.738.740.542.739.939.333.735.946.644.7
Tajikistan111.445.836.835.532.529.327.935.042.247.746.343.150.444.4
Norway28.928.742.543.229.831.131.629.934.538.138.639.740.946.843.4
Guyana97.290.752.551.244.341.138.341.843.842.947.043.651.142.9
Equatorial Guinea157.036.62.87.97.27.16.312.631.741.136.241.243.248.442.8
Guinea71.691.597.968.958.127.234.035.244.443.041.939.338.647.542.5
Islamic Republic of Iran22.222.214.812.313.611.812.637.047.945.040.642.744.142.4
Switzerland33.352.254.941.541.942.642.042.142.240.941.839.839.643.342.1
Czech Republic17.027.737.139.744.244.441.939.736.634.232.130.037.642.0
Turkey51.350.239.736.132.431.128.427.327.927.930.132.639.741.8
Belarus8.136.858.236.936.938.853.053.553.247.541.047.541.2
Indonesia87.442.624.523.123.024.924.727.028.029.430.430.639.841.2
Tanzania46.127.628.430.032.736.139.239.840.740.539.040.540.7
Vietnam24.828.736.835.838.341.443.646.147.546.343.741.341.739.7
Paraguay67.033.624.112.110.312.313.515.618.619.419.822.325.836.937.7
Sweden50.248.838.137.137.540.244.943.742.340.738.934.939.236.8
Denmark52.437.442.646.144.944.044.339.837.235.934.033.742.236.6
Nigeria71.757.618.99.417.417.618.317.520.323.425.327.729.234.536.6
Peru44.940.425.323.021.119.920.624.024.325.226.026.935.036.4
Chile13.27.08.611.111.912.815.017.421.123.725.828.332.636.3
Cambodia35.235.628.729.731.531.731.931.229.130.028.428.235.236.3
Uzbekistan29.521.06.66.36.86.26.16.78.219.319.728.437.635.8
Bangladesh35.629.630.630.229.929.428.127.828.629.631.734.235.5
Bosnia and Herzegovina34.725.540.839.642.242.545.945.544.137.934.332.536.535.4
United Arab Emirates3.14.519.521.521.216.014.216.719.421.620.927.139.734.7
Moldova89.140.425.524.231.330.035.042.439.234.931.828.836.633.1
Guatemala18.020.024.023.824.625.024.724.825.025.126.426.431.530.8
Saudi Arabia86.737.38.45.43.02.11.65.813.117.218.322.532.430.0
Taiwan Province of China26.234.136.938.339.238.937.535.935.434.533.932.732.628.4
Nauru243.2188.2127.6121.7105.980.079.677.575.162.861.427.1
Azerbaijan22.86.95.05.05.86.28.518.020.622.518.717.721.326.4
Comoros108.460.839.930.527.725.110.311.914.315.518.816.921.724.026.0
Kazakhstan8.110.710.212.112.614.521.919.719.920.319.926.425.1
Luxembourg7.58.019.118.520.922.421.921.119.621.820.822.324.824.3
Haiti32.529.723.221.322.824.420.821.721.619.021.625.821.324.2
Bulgaria73.328.514.114.316.517.226.325.427.022.920.118.323.323.8
Marshall Islands27.446.239.035.937.633.635.733.929.325.624.524.821.619.8
Botswana8.27.520.820.920.018.318.418.216.414.514.916.519.019.5
Estonia5.14.76.76.29.810.210.610.110.09.18.28.518.617.6
Kiribati6.611.910.58.58.17.58.38.820.021.921.319.820.119.017.6
Russia55.914.910.110.311.212.315.115.314.814.313.613.719.217.0
Solomon Islands48.022.918.315.213.510.59.07.18.58.17.913.716.5
Democratic Republic of the Congo135.0101.530.625.021.819.116.817.019.519.215.115.016.516.1
Micronesia27.024.728.828.327.027.628.125.624.221.919.617.818.315.0
Turkmenistan73.79.16.310.113.915.912.514.819.019.818.915.313.111.1
Timor-Leste0.00.00.00.00.51.52.94.76.69.19.411.510.0
Kuwait34.911.86.24.63.63.13.44.710.020.515.111.611.78.7
Tuvalu37.421.119.119.317.816.414.411.512.111.811.57.36.0
Brunei Darussalam0.00.00.01.12.12.12.23.23.03.02.82.62.62.92.5
Hong Kong SAR1.70.60.60.50.50.10.10.10.10.10.31.02.1
Macao SAR0.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
Afghanistan206.47.77.56.86.98.79.28.48.07.46.17.4
Lebanon148.1178.9136.8134.4131.1135.4138.4140.8146.4150.0155.1172.3150.6
Syria189.8152.150.730.0