Latin American and Caribbean Public Debt Management Specialists Group (2024). Latin America and the Caribbean Standardized Public Debt Database: Data as of December 2023. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/nr8j-2q54

1. English

What is this dataset?

The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Public Debt Database — 2023 II Edition compiles standardized and comparable sovereign debt data for 26 countries in the region.
Developed by the LAC Debt Group and maintained by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), it serves as the authoritative public debt database for analyzing government debt in Latin America (2023) across countries.

What time period does the dataset cover?

The dataset includes biannual data starting in 2006 and extending through December 2023, offering a continuous record of public debt trends and structural composition over nearly two decades.

Why was this database created?

The LAC Debt Group launched an initiative to improve fiscal transparency and provide a harmonized view of public debt across Latin America and the Caribbean.
It supports evidence-based policy, debt management, and regional coordination by delivering valid, comparable, and standardized data.

What information does the dataset include?

The 2023 II Public Debt Database contains indicators that describe the structure and composition of sovereign debt, including:
- Debt classified by legislation (domestic vs. external)
- Debt by creditor type (official, multilateral, private)
- Currency composition (local vs. foreign currency)
- Maturity structure (short-, medium-, and long-term)
- Debt by instrument type (bonds, loans, others)

This structure enables comprehensive monitoring of Latin American government debt in 2023 and its evolution over time.

How is the data collected and standardized?

Data are submitted directly by each country’s Debt Management Office (DMO) using a standardized questionnaire developed by the LAC Debt Group.
The questionnaire ensures cross-country comparability through clear, objective, and consistent definitions of public debt.

Which countries are included in the 2023 II edition?

The dataset covers 26 LAC countries:

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

How is the data collected and standardized?

Each country’s DMO reports debt statistics via a harmonized questionnaire developed by the LAC Debt Group.
The process uses clear, objective, and homogeneous definitions of public debt, enabling users to make consistent cross-country and time-series comparisons.

What is the time coverage?

The 2023 edition provides data through the end of 2023, with historical series for previous years available where national data are available.

How often is the dataset updated?

The dataset is updated yearly as new data are reported by participating countries and validated by 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 the other available editions on the IDB Open Data Portal:

• 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.

Each release maintains a consistent structure and set of definitions, ensuring comparability across editions.
Users seeking a historical series of public debt data can merge multiple editions to analyze trends in Latin American government debt over time.

What are the key uses of this dataset?

Researchers, policymakers, and analysts can use the dataset to:
- Analyze public debt composition and structure by country or region
- Compare debt sustainability indicators across Latin America and the Caribbean
- Examine trends in Latin America government debt (2023) and beyond
- Support macroeconomic research and fiscal policy formulation

What are the dataset’s limitations?

• Reporting coverage may vary by country or data series.
• Private and subnational debt are not included.
• Updates depend on submissions from national DMOs, so some indicators may lag by one reporting cycle.

What supporting materials are available?

The dataset package includes:
- Excel file with detailed country-level debt statistics
- Metadata and methodological documentation
- A PDF guide explaining definitions and classification standards

What are the public debt levels in Latin American countries in 2023?

As of December 2023, debt-to-GDP ratios varied widely across the region. Argentina remained above 80%, Brazil around 75%, Mexico near 50%, while Chile and Peru were below 40%. These figures highlight fiscal divergence and differing debt sustainability challenges.