International comparison
How the UK sits against other major economies, on a measure chosen to be comparable across countries.
General government gross debt (% of GDP), 2025
| Country | Debt %GDP | Deficit %GDP | Growth % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 206.5 | 1.7 | -0.2 |
| Italy | 137.1 | 3.4 | 0.8 |
| United States | 123.9 | 7.9 | 2.8 |
| France | 116 | 5.8 | 1.1 |
| Canada | 113.5 | 2.1 | 2 |
| United Kingdom UK | 102.3 | 6.1 | 1.1 |
| Germany | 62.9 | 2.7 | -0.5 |
| Australia | 51 | 2.3 | 1 |
Debt figures: IMF World Economic Outlook database, 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2026. official
Why the UK number here differs from the headline
This table uses general government gross debt, the most consistent measure across countries. The UK's own headline measure (public sector net debt, around 95% of GDP) is lower because it subtracts liquid assets and is defined slightly differently. Comparing countries fairly means using the same definition for all of them, even if it is not the one a country usually quotes at home.