MoneyWeek map: The world's biggest spenders

published 26 March 2013

Debt is a big problem, and for Britain in particular. On the map above, we've looked at two things for each of the 19 nations of the G20 (the 20th is the eurozone): the deficit (or surplus), which is the amount a country spends over and above its tax take each year; and the overall national debt as a percentage of GDP.

To give an example of what's considered sustainable, the criteria for joining the eurozone included having a deficit of 3% or less. Many fail this test. (All surplus/deficit figures are from 2012; national debt figures from 2012, or 2011 if asterisked.)