Latin American and Caribbean Public Debt Management Specialists Group (2022). Latin America and the Caribbean Standardized Public Debt Database: Data as of December 2020. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/aakr-4t49

1. English

What is this dataset?

The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Public Debt Database — December 2020 Edition provides standardized and comparable data on government debt across the region.
Developed by the LAC Debt Group and coordinated by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), it serves as the region’s principal public debt database, supporting transparency and sound fiscal management.

Why was this database created?

The LAC Debt Group established this initiative to strengthen regional policy coordination by providing valid, comparable, and standardized data.
It enables policymakers, debt managers, and analysts to assess Latin American government debt (2020 and beyond) using harmonized definitions and methodologies.

What information does it include?

The database provides detailed indicators compiled from the official reports of Debt Management Offices (DMOs) across 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries, including:
- Central government and total public debt levels
- Currency composition (domestic vs. external)
- Creditor type (official, multilateral, commercial, etc.)
- Debt instruments and maturity structures
- Debt service schedules and sustainability metrics

How is the data collected and standardized?

Each country’s Debt Management Office (DMO) completes a harmonized questionnaire developed by the LAC Debt Group.
This process ensures that all reported values are consistent, comparable, and based on clear, objective, and homogeneous definitions of public debt.

Which countries are included?

The 2020 dataset includes 26 member countries of the LAC Debt Group, spanning both Latin America and the Caribbean:

Latin America:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

Caribbean:
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

What is the time period covered?

The December 2020 edition contains debt statistics through the end of 2020, with historical series extending back to previous years for most participating countries.

How often is the database updated?

The database is updated yearly, following new submissions and revisions from country DMOs participating in the LAC Debt Group.

Where can I find other editions of the Public Debt Database?

The LAC Debt Group’s Public Debt Database is released biannually, providing comparable and standardized data on sovereign debt across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Each edition reflects the latest information reported by participating countries and allows users to track the evolution of Latin American government debt over time.

Below are links to all available editions on the IDB Open Data Portal:

• December 2023 Edition — Latin America and the Caribbean Public Debt Database (Dec 2023)
  Contains biannual data through December 2023.

• June 2023 Edition — Latin America and the Caribbean Public Debt Database (Jun 2023)
  Covers data through June 2023.

• June 2022 Edition — Latin America and the Caribbean Public Debt Database (Jun 2022)
  Includes data through June 2022.

• December 2021 Edition — Latin America and the Caribbean Public Debt Database (Dec 2021)
  Provides data through December 2021.

• December 2020 Edition — Latin America and the Caribbean Public Debt Database (Dec 2020)
  Covers data through December 2020.

• December 2019 Edition — Latin America and the Caribbean Public Debt Database (Dec 2019)
  Contains data through December 2019.

• June 2019 Edition — Latin America and the Caribbean Public Debt Database (Jun 2019)
  Includes data through June 2019.

Each release maintains a consistent structure, methodology, and variable definitions, ensuring comparability across editions.
Researchers can combine multiple editions to construct a continuous time series of public debt data and evaluate trends in Latin American government debt.

What are the dataset’s limitations?

• Some countries may have limited data for earlier years.
• Debt reporting standards can differ slightly between domestic and international classifications.
• Private and subnational debt are not covered.

How can I use this dataset?

Users can:
- Analyze Latin America government debt 2020 composition and structure
- Compare debt levels and sustainability indicators across 26 LAC countries
- Assess fiscal vulnerabilities and public debt management practices
- Support regional research, macroeconomic analysis, and policy evaluation

Where can I access additional documentation?

The dataset package includes:
- An Excel database with all country-level data
- Metadata and methodological documentation explaining variable definitions
- A PDF guide describing the questionnaire and standardization process

What are the government debt levels in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina in 2020?

The dataset provides country-specific debt-to-GDP ratios and gross debt figures. Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina all reported elevated debt burdens in 2020, reflecting pandemic-related fiscal pressures.

Argentina’s debt-to-GDP ratio was among the highest in the region, while Brazil and Mexico also showed significant increases compared to prior years.

What is the comparison of Latin American debt levels of 2019 vs 2020?

Debt levels rose sharply in 2020 compared to 2019. The COVID-19 crisis led governments to expand borrowing, resulting in higher gross debt and debt-to-GDP ratios across nearly all 26 countries.

What is the historical trend of Latin American public debt 2010–2020?

The dataset shows a steady upward trend in debt ratios over the decade, with notable spikes during global downturns and a sharp increase in 2020 due to the pandemic.