| Rank | Country | Public debt (% of GDP) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 237.6 |  |
| 2 | Greece | 181.8 | |
| 3 | Barbados | 157.3 | |
| 4 | Lebanon | 146.8 | |
| 5 | Italy | 131.8 | |
| 6 | Eritrea | 131.2 | |
| 7 | Congo, Republic of the | 130.8 | |
| 8 | Cape Verde | 125.8 | |
| 9 | Portugal | 125.7 | |
| 10 | Sudan | 121.6 | |
Definition: This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of January 1, 2020
See also: Public debt map