Based on a comparison of 170 countries in 2023, Japan ranked the highest in public debt as a share of GDP with 261% followed by Venezuela and Lebanon. On the other end of the scale was Macao with 0%, Brunei with 1.92% and Hong Kong with 4.30%.
Data for more countries are available at Public Debt (As % of GDP) indicator page.
Public Debt (As % of GDP) | Unit | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Bahrain | % | 88.1% | 94.6% | 102% | 130% | 129% | ||||||||||||||||
Bhutan | % | 112% | 113% | 106% | 131% | 132% | ||||||||||||||||
Eritrea | % | 203% | 186% | 187% | 180% | 176% | ||||||||||||||||
France | % | 98.1% | 97.8% | 97.4% | 115% | 113% | ||||||||||||||||
Greece | % | 183% | 191% | 186% | 212% | 199% | ||||||||||||||||
Italy | % | 134% | 134% | 134% | 155% | 151% | ||||||||||||||||
Japan | % | 231% | 232% | 236% | 259% | 262% | ||||||||||||||||
Lebanon | % | 150% | 155% | 172% | 151% | 162% | ||||||||||||||||
Maldives | % | 64.6% | 72.0% | 78.8% | 154% | 125% | ||||||||||||||||
Singapore | % | 108% | 109% | 128% | 152% | 160% | ||||||||||||||||
Sudan | % | 150% | 187% | 200% | 263% | 182% | ||||||||||||||||
Suriname | % | 71.5% | 66.1% | 85.2% | 146% | 126% | ||||||||||||||||
USA | % | 106% | 107% | 109% | 135% | 128% | ||||||||||||||||
Venezuela | % | 134% | 175% | 201% | 319% | 241% | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
Zambia | % | 66.3% | 80.5% | 99.7% | 140% | 119% |