Countries by Government Debt (% of GDP) 2024

Source: International Monetary Fund

Countries by Government Debt (% of GDP) 2024

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Key Findings

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Japan leads in General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP) with 255 in 2024.

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Average General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP) in 2024: 139 · median: 117.

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Gap in 2024: Japan is 2.4× larger than Belgium.

About This Dataset

Countries by Government Debt (% of GDP) 2024

The chart displays the government debt as a percentage of GDP for various countries in 2024. Japan leads with a staggering 255%, followed by Greece at 163% and Italy at 140%. The United States, while significantly lower, still holds a notable debt level at 122%.

Analysis

Japan's government debt stands at an unprecedented 255% of its GDP, far surpassing Greece's 163% and Italy's 140%. This stark contrast highlights Japan's long-standing economic challenges, including an aging population and stagnant growth, which have necessitated extensive borrowing. The U.S. and several European nations like France (111%) and Portugal (108%) also show high debt levels, but they are considerably lower than Japan and Greece. The trend suggests that while developed nations are grappling with high debt, Japan's situation is particularly acute, potentially leading to long-term economic implications if not addressed.

Data Insights Below

Data Insights

Numbers, trends & sources behind this chart

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Data Points

8 categories · 1 year

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Top Value

255

Japan

General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP) · 2024

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Metrics

General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP)

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Period

2024

Single year snapshot

Methodology & source

Data source: International Monetary Fund
Coverage: 8 entities · 2024 · 8 observations
Measure: General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP)
Last updated: 16 September 2026
Compiled by: The ANYSTAT team, from the source above

How the figures are calculated

Values use the measure and unit named on this page. Consult the dataset description and cited source for coverage, definitions and any unit conversions. Displayed values may be rounded for readability.
Entities are ranked highest-first on their value in 2024.

An article using this data

Which Countries Carry the Most Government Debt in 2024?

Japan, Greece, and Italy lead the world in government debt as a share of GDP in 2024. Here is how the major economies compare.

Rankings & Full Data

8 records · General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP) · ranked by 2024

✓ 8 sourced

#	Category	2024
🥇	Japan	255
🥈	Greece	163
🥉	Italy	140
4	United States	122
5	France	111
6	Portugal	108
7	Spain	106
8	Belgium	105

Data Sources & References

All external sources cited in this dataset

1 https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO Visit ↗

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APA

ANYSTAT. (2026). Countries by Government Debt (% of GDP) 2024 [Data set]. Data: International Monetary Fund. https://anystat.ai/stats/638/countries-government-debt-pct-gdp-2024

MLA

"Countries by Government Debt (% of GDP) 2024." ANYSTAT, 16 Sep. 2026, https://anystat.ai/stats/638/countries-government-debt-pct-gdp-2024.

Link for your website

<a href="https://anystat.ai/stats/638/countries-government-debt-pct-gdp-2024">Countries by Government Debt (% of GDP) 2024</a> (ANYSTAT)

Countries by Government Debt (% of GDP) 2024