Switzerland vs United Kingdom: Government debt
Government debt in 2025: 40.1% of GDP in Switzerland and 102.1% of GDP in United Kingdom, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in United Kingdom, by 62 percentage points, or 2.55 times that in Switzerland.
SwitzerlandUnited Kingdom
Watch it change on the mapLatest figures
% of GDP · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 40.1 2025 | 43.1 | 106 of 149 | 35.9 2031 |
| United Kingdom | 102.1 2025 | 87.3 | 12 of 149 | 100.2 2031 |
What the numbers say
- United Kingdom has been higher since 2008, when it overtook Switzerland.
- In 2025, Switzerland ranked 106 and United Kingdom ranked 12 of 149 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Switzerland at 35.9% of GDP and United Kingdom at 100.2% of GDP in 2031.
Every year
% of GDP · IMF
| Year | Switzerland | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40.1 | 102.1 |
| 2024 | 40.4 | 99.4 |
| 2023 | 40.2 | 98.3 |
| 2022 | 39.2 | 97.1 |
| 2021 | 43.3 | 103 |
| 2020 | 45.3 | 104.4 |
| 2019 | 41 | 84.5 |
| 2018 | 41.1 | 85.3 |
| 2017 | 42 | 85.9 |
| 2016 | 42 | 87.2 |
| 2015 | 43.1 | 87.3 |
| 2014 | 42.9 | 86.4 |
| 2013 | 42.9 | 84.8 |
| 2012 | 43.6 | 84 |
| 2011 | 42.9 | 81 |
| 2010 | 42.6 | 75.5 |
| 2009 | 44.3 | 64.6 |
| 2008 | 46.2 | 50.7 |
| 2007 | 45.9 | 43.1 |
| 2006 | 47.9 | 42.1 |
| 2005 | 54.2 | 41 |
| 2004 | 57.2 | 39.8 |
| 2003 | 56.3 | 36.8 |
| 2002 | 57 | 35.5 |
| 2001 | 50.8 | 35 |
| 2000 | 51.9 | 37.7 |
| 1999 | 52 | 40.5 |
| 1998 | 55.4 | 42 |
| 1997 | 53.1 | 44.1 |
| 1996 | 50.7 | 43.7 |
| 1995 | 49.4 | 43.7 |
| 1994 | 46.5 | 40.8 |
| 1993 | 43.8 | 38 |
| 1992 | 39.1 | 33.3 |
| 1991 | 34.8 | 28.5 |
| 1990 | 33.1 | 28.5 |
| 1989 | – | 32.6 |
| 1988 | – | 37.1 |
| 1987 | – | 39.3 |
| 1986 | – | 41.4 |
| 1985 | – | 41.4 |
| 1984 | – | 42.3 |
| 1983 | – | 41.9 |
| 1982 | – | 43.1 |
| 1981 | – | 44.9 |
| 1980 | – | 42.7 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | Switzerland | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 38.3 | 102 |
| 2027 | 37.8 | 102.5 |
| 2028 | 37.1 | 102.3 |
| 2029 | 37 | 101.6 |
| 2030 | 36.2 | 100.9 |
| 2031 | 35.9 | 100.2 |
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