Net incurrence of liabilities, total in North America

North America: Net incurrence of liabilities, total was 6.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
6.9%
Change on year
down 21.1%
Rank
3rd
of 21 groups
All-time high
23.1%
in 2020
All-time low
-2.1%
in 2000
Years of data
53
1972–2024

Net incurrence of liabilities, total in North America, 1972–2024

01020197219982024

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

In 2024, net incurrence of liabilities, total in North America stood at 6.9%.

The figure is down 21.1% on the previous year and up 76.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, net incurrence of liabilities, total in North America peaked at 23.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, -2.1%, in 2000.

That places North America 3rd out of 21 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Net incurrence of liabilities, total in North America, year by year

Annual values for Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP) in North America, 1972 to 2024.
Year % of GDP Change
1972 1.6%
1973 1.3% -21.8%
1974 0.1% -89.6%
1975 3.2% +2298.5%
1976 4.4% +40.3%
1977 2.7% -39.3%
1978 2.6% -1.7%
1979 1.5% -42.5%
1980 2.7% +76.9%
1981 2.6% -1.4%
1982 4.1% +56.9%
1983 5.9% +43.0%
1984 4.3% -27.3%
1985 4.6% +7.2%
1986 5.1% +10.1%
1987 3.1% -39.9%
1988 3.1% +0.8%
1989 2.5% -19.8%
1990 3.7% +49.2%
1991 4.6% +24.5%
1992 4.7% +2.6%
1993 3.9% -17.4%
1994 2.7% -29.7%
1995 2.4% -11.2%
1996 1.7% -30.3%
1997 0.4% -75.3%
1998 -0.5% -223.9%
1999 -0.7% +43.2%
2000 -2.1% +185.8%
2001 0.7% -133.9%
2002 2.6% +265.6%
2003 4.4% +69.6%
2004 3.5% -22.0%
2005 3.3% -4.2%
2006 1.9% -42.3%
2007 2.3% +17.5%
2008 9.0% +299.6%
2009 10.2% +13.4%
2010 10.6% +3.5%
2011 7.2% -31.5%
2012 7.2% +0.0%
2013 4.8% -33.1%
2014 3.9% -19.4%
2015 4.0% +3.3%
2016 4.3% +6.5%
2017 3.1% -27.1%
2018 5.8% +83.9%
2019 5.1% -11.0%
2020 23.1% +350.5%
2021 6.0% -73.9%
2022 4.9% -17.9%
2023 8.7% +76.5%
2024 6.9% -21.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.2% 0.1% 4.4% 8
1980s 3.8% 2.5% 5.9% 10
1990s 2.3% -0.7% 4.7% 10
2000s 3.6% -2.1% 10.2% 10
2010s 5.6% 3.1% 10.6% 10
2020s 9.9% 4.9% 23.1% 5

Countries ranked near North America

  1. 1 Palau 20.3% compare
  2. 2 Ukraine 18.3% compare
  3. 3 Maldives 14.9% compare
  4. 4 Finland 13.5% compare
  5. 5 Malawi 11.8% compare
  6. 6 Egypt 10.4% compare

See the full ranking of 157 places →

More public sector data for North America

All data for North America →

Frequently asked questions

What is net incurrence of liabilities, total in North America?
Net incurrence of liabilities, total in North America was 6.9% in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest net incurrence of liabilities, total recorded in North America?
The highest recorded value was 23.1% in 2020.
What is the lowest net incurrence of liabilities, total recorded in North America?
The lowest recorded value was -2.1% in 2000.
How does North America rank for net incurrence of liabilities, total?
North America ranks 3rd out of 21 groups with data for 2024.
Is net incurrence of liabilities, total rising or falling in North America?
Over the last ten years it is up 76.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this North America data come from?
The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Net incurrence of liabilities, total in North America. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/net-incurrence-of-liabilities-total-percent-of-gdp/north-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
157 places, 3,371 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Net incurrence of government liabilities includes foreign financing (obtained from nonresidents) and domestic financing (obtained from residents), or the means by which a government provides financial resources to cover a budget deficit or allocates financial resources arising from a budget surplus. The net incurrence of liabilities should be offset by the net acquisition of financial assets. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.