Glossary
What is the Public Debt (% of GDP)?
Government debt-to-GDP
Definition
Public debt as a share of GDP compares a government’s total outstanding debt to the size of its economy. It gauges how heavy the debt burden is relative to the country’s capacity to service it.
Why it matters
Higher debt-to-GDP can raise borrowing costs and constrain fiscal space. Investors watch the trajectory closely to judge sovereign risk.