Fiscal
Debt-to-GDP Ratio
Definition
A country's total government debt expressed as a percentage of its gross domestic product, measuring fiscal sustainability.
Explanation
Japan leads at 250%+ of GDP, followed by Greece, Italy, and the United States (120%+). Whether high debt is dangerous depends on interest rates, growth rates, currency, and institutional credibility. The US can sustain high debt because of dollar reserve status; Greece needed bailouts at similar levels. The IMF considers 60% a common benchmark for advanced economies.
See Current Data
Explore debt-to-gdp ratio data for all 218 countries with interactive charts and historical trends.
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