The world's biggest debtor nations - Thanks Gordon

The top 20 debtor nations ranked by External Debt as a percentage of GDP. All figures are as per CNBC

20. United States - 96.5%

External debt (as % of GDP): 96.5%

Gross external debt: $13.77 trillion (2009 Q3)
2009 GDP (est): $14.26 trillion


19. Hungary - 121.9%

External debt (as % of GDP): 121.9%

Gross external debt: $225.56 billion (2009 Q2)
2009 GDP (est): $184.9 billion


18. Australia - 124.3%

External debt (as % of GDP): 124.3%

Gross external debt: $1.025 trillion (2009 Q2)
2009 GDP (est): $824.3 billion


17. Italy - 147.4%

External debt (as % of GDP): 147.4%

Gross external debt: $2.594 trillion (2009 Q3)
2009 GDP (est): $1.76 trillion


16. Greece - 170.5%

External debt (as % of GDP): 170.5%

Gross external debt: $581.68 billion
2009 GDP (est): $341 billion


15. Germany - 182.5%

External debt (as % of GDP): 182.5%

Gross external debt: $5.13 trillion
2009 GDP (est): $2.81 trillion


14. Spain - 186.1%

External debt (as % of GDP): 186.1%

Gross external debt: $2.55 trillion (2009 Q3)
2009 GDP (est): $1.37 trillion


13. Norway - 202.6%

External debt (as % of GDP): 202.6%

Gross external debt: $553.4 billion
2009 GDP (est): $273.1 billion


12. Finland - 220.2%

External debt (as % of GDP): 220.2%

Gross external debt: $402.24 billion
2009 GDP (est): $182.6 billion


11. Hong Kong - 223.1%

External debt (as % of GDP): 223.1%

Gross external debt: $672.9 billion
2009 GDP (est): $301.6 billion


10. Portugal - 235.9%

External debt (as % of GDP): 235.9%

Gross external debt: $548.45 billion
2009 GDP (est): $232.4 billion


9. France - 248%

External debt (as % of GDP): 248%

Gross external debt: $5.23 trillion (2009 Q3)
2009 GDP (est): $2.11 trillion


8. Austria - 256.2%

External debt (as % of GDP): 256.2%

Gross external debt: $827.9 billion
2009 GDP (est): $323.1 billion


7. Sweden - 264.3%

External debt (as % of GDP): 264.3%

Gross external debt: $881.5 billion
2009 GDP (est): $333.5 billion


6. Denmark - 316%

External debt (as % of GDP): 316%

Gross external debt: $627.6 billion
2009 GDP (est): $198.6 billion


5. Belgium - 328.7%

External debt (as % of GDP): 328.7%

Gross external debt: $1.25 trillion
2009 GDP (est): $381 billion


4. Netherlands - 376.6%

External debt (as % of GDP): 376.6%

Gross external debt: $2.46 trillion (2009 Q3)
2009 GDP (est): $654.9 billion


3. Switzerland - 382.2%

External debt (as % of GDP): 382.2%

Gross external debt: $1.21 trillion (2009 Q3)
2009 GDP (est): $317 billion


2. United Kingdom - 425.9%

External debt (as % of GDP): 425.9%

Gross external debt: $9.15 trillion
2009 GDP (est): $2.15 trillion


1. Ireland - 1,312%

External debt (as % of GDP): 1,312%

Gross external debt: $2.32 trillion
2009 GDP (est): $176.9 billion



Well done Gordon, maybe if a Labour government had been returned to power at the last election you could have enabled the UK to overtake Ireland. I really hope being out of power hurts you and that you just can't stop wondering what would have happened if you had called the general election in October 2007. So let that thought gnaw away at you for a while and I wish you many sleepless nights as a result.