Times of Better Bharat

India, measured — every morning · est. 2026

Central government debt

The Union government's own debt, excluding the states. Roughly thirty points below the general-government figure the IMF uses, and the number most often quoted as 'India's debt'. Both are correct; they count different entities.

Position from worst
46.52
2018
Published by
World Bank / IMF
annual

Central government debt over time

45.0%50.0%55.0%60.0%65.0%199019952000200520102015201846.5%
19902018 · 29 observations · lower is better · % of GDP
View as table
PeriodCentral government debt
201846.5%
201747.6%
201647.6%
201550.0%
201449.9%
201350.3%
201250.7%
201151.6%
201051.6%
200955.3%
200857.3%
200757.5%
200659.7%
200562.2%
200462.6%
200362.2%
200262.6%
200159.0%
200055.0%
199951.4%
199850.3%
199750.4%
199645.7%
199547.5%
199449.6%
199351.8%
199249.7%
199150.0%
199050.8%

Compared with

Germany
20.9%
Indonesia
30.0%
Bangladesh
31.2%
Nepal
39.9%
India
46.5%
Pakistan
55.0%
Sri Lanka
73.5%
Brazil
81.9%
South Africa
82.8%
United States
115.8%
Latest available year for each country · % of GDP · lower is better

Source

World Bank / IMFhttps://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS