This interactive map shows historical data and forecast of general government gross debt (as percent of GDP) in each country. Government debt (also known as public debt, national debt, sovereign debt) is money (or credit) owed by a central government to creditors within the country (domestic, or internal debt) as well as to international creditors (foreign, or external debt).

Gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future. This includes debt liabilities in the form of SDRs (Special Drawing Rights), currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable.