World government debt, live estimate 2026
$119,668,483,272,793
Grows by about $308,072 every second, $26,617 million a day in 2026.
World government debt in 2026
The IMF estimates that general government gross debt worldwide will reach $121.09 trillion by the end of 2026. That is 94.6% of world GDP and about $15,249 for each of the 7.9 billion people in the 187 countries the IMF covers.
Total global debt: governments, companies and households
Governments are only part of the picture. Companies borrow to invest and households borrow for homes, cars and studies. The IMF Global Debt Database tracks those loans and bonds too; its latest year with broad coverage is 2024.
Total global debt in 2024: about $258.57 trillion
Government debt of all countries plus household and company debt of the 71 economies that report it (92% of world GDP).
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Governments
$102.84 trillion · 40% -
Companies
$94.61 trillion · 37% -
Households
$61.12 trillion · 24%
Sources: IMF Global Debt Database (households, nonfinancial companies; loans and debt securities); IMF World Economic Outlook (governments).
How world debt grew since 2001
World government debt grew from $21.78 trillion in 2001 to $121.09 trillion in 2026. Two jumps stand out: the financial crisis, after which debt rose from 62.2% of world GDP in 2008, and the pandemic, when it leapt from 82.2% in 2019 to 97.5% in 2020 as governments paid for lockdowns and support programs.
World government debt to GDP, 2001–2031
Hover a bar for the exact value.
Rich and emerging economies
Advanced economies owe $80.02 trillion, 107.8% of their GDP. Emerging and developing economies owe less, $40.97 trillion or 76.2% of GDP, but their debt grows faster: it is 12 times what it was in 2001, largely because of China.
Government debt by economy type, trillions of US dollars
Move over the chart to compare years.
Who owes the world's debt
Debt is concentrated: the United States, China, Japan, United Kingdom, and France owe 67.0% of all government debt. See every country in the national debt by country ranking.
Where world debt is heading
The IMF expects government debt to keep rising faster than the economy, reaching $164.15 trillion or 101.5% of world GDP by 2031. Aging populations, higher interest costs and defense spending push it up; growth and inflation pull the ratio down. To see why the debt rarely shrinks, read how national debt works.
Frequently asked questions
How much debt is there in the world?
Governments owe about $121.09 trillion in 2026, or 94.6% of world GDP. Including households and companies, total global debt was about $258.57 trillion in 2024.
What is the world debt per person?
About $15,249 of government debt for every person on Earth in 2026.
Who owes the most of the world's debt?
The United States, China, Japan, United Kingdom, and France together owe 67.0% of all government debt. Advanced economies hold 66.1% of it.
Who does the world owe its debt to?
Mostly to itself. Government bonds are bought by banks, pension funds, insurers, central banks and savers, often in the same country. One country's debt is another investor's asset, so the whole world cannot be in debt to someone outside it.
Will world debt keep growing?
The IMF expects government debt to reach $164.15 trillion by 2031, 101.5% of world GDP.
