Source: World Bank  

Release: World Development Indicators  

Units:  Percent of GDP, Not Seasonally Adjusted

Frequency:  Annual

Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year.

Nations that are included in this data series are listed at http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups. A developing nation is defined as one which falls within the lower or middle income bracket.

Source Indicator: GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS