New Zealand—Central Government Debt (% of GDP)
New Zealand's central government debt (% of GDP) was 52.0% in 2024, ranking #30 out of 55 countries. This represents a +4.2% change from 2023. Over the past 23 years, the highest recorded value was 53.9% (2022) and the lowest was 31.9% (2009). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52.0% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 49.9% | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 53.9% | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 51.4% | +12.4% |
| 2020 | 45.7% | +39.4% |
| 2019 | 32.8% | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 36.7% | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 38.7% | -6.6% |
| 2016 | 41.4% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 42.9% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 43.9% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 46.4% | -9.9% |
| 2012 | 51.6% | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | +38.5% |
| 2010 | 34.7% | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 31.9% | -11.5% |
| 2008 | 36.0% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 37.0% | -13.9% |
| 2006 | 43.0% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 44.2% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 43.9% | -9.1% |
| 2003 | 48.2% | +47.2% |
| 2002 | 32.8% |
Top Countries — Central Government Debt (% of GDP)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 167.8% | 2024 |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 130.7% | 2024 |
| 3 | United States | 115.8% | 2024 |
| 4 | Bahrain | 111.6% | 2020 |
| 5 | Bhutan | 111.0% | 2020 |
| 6 | El Salvador | 107.3% | 2024 |
| 7 | Spain | 105.6% | 2024 |
| 8 | San Marino | 99.9% | 2023 |
| 9 | Jamaica | 97.9% | 2020 |
| 10 | Jordan | 93.6% | 2023 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year. Central government is the part of general government that includes all administrative departments of the national executive, legislative, and judicial functions, other central agencies and those non-market producers controlled by the central government, whose competence extends normally over the whole economic territory. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.
Methodology
Original contributors: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Unit
% of GDP