Global debt tops US$365 trillion as interest costs climb

Global debt

365 US$ trillion

Global debt rose by US$10 trillion in the first half of 2026, about US$44,000 for every person on Earth.

Largest government debts

1. 1 United States: US$41.4 trillion
2. 2 China: US$22.5 trillion
3. 3 Japan: US$8.7 trillion
4. 4 United Kingdom: US$4.4 trillion
5. 5 France: US$4.2 trillion

The United States owes the most, at US$41.4 trillion, and France ranks fifth with US$4.2 trillion.

Advanced economies paid more than US$3.3 trillion in interest on government bonds over the past year, more than the world spends on defence.