Economy dashboard · Public finances
As at 13 October 2026 · official data unless labelled
General government gross debt, share of GDP
59.6%Better than the OECD median2025vs OECD median 67.9%
What the numbers are telling us
General government gross debt, share of GDP was 59.6% in 2025.
Across 29 OECD countries (2025), Australia ranks 11th best of 29 on general government gross debt, share of GDP, below the median of 67.9%.
Why it matters
Debt relative to the economy's size shows how much room government has to respond to the next downturn.
What it should be
There is no official target for this measure, so it is judged against its own long-run average: lower is better. The OECD median is 67.9%.
Australia ranks 11th best of 29 OECD countries
General government gross debt, share of GDP, 2025; OECD median 67.9%
Luxembourg32.21
Estonia33.95
Denmark34.7
Lithuania40.26
Switzerland41.41
Chile47.63
Netherlands47.81
Sweden49.78
Czechia50.01
Latvia56.9
Australia59.61
New Zealand61.59
Every figure on this page is calculated from the stored official series (OECD, Government at a Glance: public finance, yearly updates); the summary is written from the numbers, not edited by hand.