Countries with the Lowest Government Debt (2026)
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook·25 countries·Updated 2026
Some countries manage to keep government debt remarkably low. Here are the 25 most fiscally conservative nations in 2026.
Macao SAR, China leads with govt gross debt (% of gdp) of 0.0%.
Liechtenstein ranks #2 at 0.5%.
Brunei Darussalam ranks #3 at 2.3%.
Turkmenistan ranks #4 at 3.6%.
Tuvalu ranks #5 at 3.6%.
Bottom 25 Countries by Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP)
| # | Country | Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Macao SAR, China | 0.0% | 2026 |
| 2 |  Liechtenstein | 0.5% | 2026 |
| 3 |  Brunei Darussalam | 2.3% | 2026 |
| 4 |  Turkmenistan | 3.6% | 2026 |
| 5 |  Tuvalu | 3.6% | 2026 |
| 6 |  Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 6.8% | 2026 |
| 7 |  Afghanistan | 8.8% | 2024 |
| 8 |  Haiti | 10.0% | 2026 |
| 9 |  Kuwait | 10.7% | 2026 |
| 10 |  Nauru | 13.0% | 2026 |
| 11 |  Hong Kong SAR, China | 14.0% | 2026 |
| 12 |  Congo, Dem. Rep. | 14.6% | 2026 |
| 13 |  Timor-Leste | 14.7% | 2026 |
| 14 |  Marshall Islands | 14.9% | 2026 |
| 15 |  Kiribati | 16.5% | 2026 |
| 16 |  Samoa | 17.7% | 2026 |
| 17 |  Puerto Rico (US) | 18.7% | 2026 |
| 18 |  Tajikistan | 22.9% | 2026 |
| 19 |  Azerbaijan | 23.5% | 2026 |
| 20 |  Russian Federation | 24.8% | 2026 |
| 21 |  Solomon Islands | 25.1% | 2026 |
| 22 |  Turkiye | 25.1% | 2026 |
| 23 |  Kazakhstan | 26.4% | 2026 |
| 24 |  Estonia | 27.5% | 2026 |
| 25 |  Guatemala | 27.8% | 2026 |
Data from 190 countries is available. View full rankings →
FAQ
What is the lowest govt gross debt (% of gdp) in 2026?
Macao SAR, China has the lowest govt gross debt (% of gdp) at 0.0% in 2026.
How many countries are included in this ranking?
This article features the bottom 25 countries out of 190 with available data. Full rankings available on the indicator page.
Where does this data come from?
Data is sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook. It is updated regularly as new releases become available.