Nigeria vs Switzerland: Government debt
Government debt in 2025: 36.1% of GDP in Nigeria and 40.1% of GDP in Switzerland, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Switzerland, by 4 percentage points, or 1.11 times that in Nigeria.
NigeriaSwitzerland
Watch it change on the mapChange since 1990, percentage points · IMF
Latest figures
% of GDP · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 36.1 2025 | 14.9 | 114 of 149 | 31.9 2031 |
| Switzerland | 40.1 2025 | 43.1 | 106 of 149 | 35.9 2031 |
What the numbers say
- Switzerland has been higher since 1994, when it overtook Nigeria.
- In 2025, Nigeria ranked 114 and Switzerland ranked 106 of 149 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Nigeria at 31.9% of GDP and Switzerland at 35.9% of GDP in 2031.
Every year
% of GDP · IMF
| Year | Nigeria | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36.1 | 40.1 |
| 2024 | 39.3 | 40.4 |
| 2023 | 36.3 | 40.2 |
| 2022 | 29.8 | 39.2 |
| 2021 | 26.6 | 43.3 |
| 2020 | 25.7 | 45.3 |
| 2019 | 21.4 | 41 |
| 2018 | 20.4 | 41.1 |
| 2017 | 18 | 42 |
| 2016 | 17.4 | 42 |
| 2015 | 14.9 | 43.1 |
| 2014 | 15.8 | 42.9 |
| 2013 | 13 | 42.9 |
| 2012 | 12.5 | 43.6 |
| 2011 | 12.4 | 42.9 |
| 2010 | 6.7 | 42.6 |
| 2009 | 6.1 | 44.3 |
| 2008 | 5.2 | 46.2 |
| 2007 | 5.8 | 45.9 |
| 2006 | 6.7 | 47.9 |
| 2005 | 13.5 | 54.2 |
| 2004 | 25.2 | 57.2 |
| 2003 | 29.9 | 56.3 |
| 2002 | 30.7 | 57 |
| 2001 | 37.7 | 50.8 |
| 2000 | 40.9 | 51.9 |
| 1999 | 46.1 | 52 |
| 1998 | 15.8 | 55.4 |
| 1997 | 17.1 | 53.1 |
| 1996 | 17.9 | 50.7 |
| 1995 | 24.2 | 49.4 |
| 1994 | 39.7 | 46.5 |
| 1993 | 50.4 | 43.8 |
| 1992 | 49.8 | 39.1 |
| 1991 | 53.2 | 34.8 |
| 1990 | 50.9 | 33.1 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | Nigeria | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 34.7 | 38.3 |
| 2027 | 32.8 | 37.8 |
| 2028 | 32.9 | 37.1 |
| 2029 | 32.5 | 37 |
| 2030 | 32.2 | 36.2 |
| 2031 | 31.9 | 35.9 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the government owes, as a share of the economy’s yearly output.
- Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
- The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 149 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time