Over the next five years, it is projected to jump even further - raising concerns about government leverage in a high interest rate and slower growth environment.

As global debt continues to climb, Visual Capitalist's Dorothy Neufeld presents this animated graphic shows data and projections for public debt-to-GDP ratios using the World Economic Outlook (April 2023 update) from the IMF.

Growing Global Debt Projections

After rising steadily for years, government debt first ballooned to almost 100% of GDP in 2020. While this ratio has fallen amid an economic rebound and high inflation in 2021 and 2022, it is projected to regain ground and continue climbing.

World government debt is now projected to rise to 99.5% of GDP by 2027. Here's data going back to 2005, as well as the forecast for global public debt-to-GDP: