Latin American and Caribbean Public Debt Management Specialists Group (2025). Latin America and the Caribbean Standardized Public Debt Database: Data as of December 2024. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/4c1aqh2a

1. English

What does the Latin America Government Debt 2024 dataset include?

The public debt database covers sovereign debt for 26 LAC countries and is updated biannually from 2006 through December 2024. It classifies debt by legal framework, creditor type, currency denomination, and maturity structure, enabling standardized cross-country analysis.

How is the public debt database structured for comparability?

Data is harmonized using a standardized questionnaire developed by the LAC Debt Group. This ensures uniform definitions across countries, addressing comparability issues that arise when governments report debt differently (e.g., central vs. general government debt).

What types of debt are excluded from the dataset?

The database focuses on the documented debt of the central government and the central bank. It excludes subnational debt, state-owned enterprise liabilities, implicit obligations (such as pay-as-you-go pensions), and short-term monetary policy instruments.

How can analysts use the classifications (currency, maturity, creditor, legislation)?

These disaggregations allow analysts to study debt sustainability under different conditions—for example, the share of short-maturity foreign-currency debt or the proportion of debt issued under foreign law.

Why is the Latin America Government Debt 2024 database important for policymaking?

It provides a transparent, harmonized view of sovereign debt across the region, supporting evidence-based fiscal policy and regional benchmarking. Policymakers can track debt evolution and assess vulnerabilities to external shocks.

How does the public debt database support macroeconomic stability?

By classifying debt by maturity, currency, and creditor type, the database helps policymakers identify risks such as rollover pressures, foreign-currency exposure, and reliance on specific creditor groups.

What role does the LAC Debt Group play in maintaining the database?

Debt offices across LAC voluntarily submit standardized data through harmonized questionnaires. The LAC Debt Group coordinates collection, applies consistency checks, and publishes biannual updates to ensure reliability and comparability.

How can this dataset be used alongside other macroeconomic indicators?

When combined with data on fiscal balance, GDP growth, and external accounts, the public debt database enables integrated analysis of debt sustainability, fiscal space, and long-term development strategies.

What period does the dataset cover, and how often is it updated?

The database begins with the first semester of 2006 and is updated every April and September. The latest release includes data through December 2024.

What is the projected government debt for Latin American countries in 2024?

The Regional Public Debt Database provides sovereign debt figures for 26 LAC countries, updated biannually through December 2024. It reports gross and net public debt levels, enabling direct comparison across nations.

What is Latin America’s public-sector borrowing outlook for 2024?

The dataset captures borrowing trends by classifying debt according to creditor type (official institutions, banks, market instruments), currency denomination, and maturity. This allows analysts to assess borrowing structures and sustainability.

What are the expected sovereign debt levels across Latin America for 2024?

Sovereign debt levels are reported in millions of USD, with disaggregation by legislation (domestic vs. foreign), maturity (short-, medium-, and long-term), and currency. This provides both aggregate and disaggregated views of national debt.

How much debt do Latin American governments anticipate holding in 2024?

The database quantifies total gross public debt and net debt (adjusted for central bank holdings, reserves, and pension fund assets). These figures allow analysts to calculate average debt burdens across the region.

What are the primary drivers contributing to Latin America's government debt levels leading into 2024?

The dataset highlights structural drivers, such as reliance on foreign-currency debt, short-term maturities, and creditor composition. These characteristics of internal debt are key to understanding vulnerabilities.

How are Latin American governments planning to finance or restructure their debt in 2024?

The standardized questionnaire includes information on recent issuances and debt profiles by legislation and holder, offering insights into financing strategies and restructuring approaches.

What is the comparison of domestic vs. external government debt composition in Latin America 2024?

The dataset explicitly classifies debt by governing legislation (domestic vs. foreign) and currency denomination, enabling analysis of exposure to external vs. internal debt sources.

Where can I find official government debt statistics?

The Regional Public Debt Database, maintained by the LAC Debt Group and IDB, is the official source. It harmonizes data submitted by national debt offices through a standardized reporting framework.

What data points are typically included in a public debt database?

Key variables include:
- Gross and net public debt
- Creditor type (official, banks, market instruments)
- Currency denomination (domestic vs. foreign)
- Maturity structure (short, medium, long term)
- Governing legislation (domestic vs. foreign)
- Debt held by central banks vs. other holders

What is the frequency of public debt data updates across different sources?

The LAC Debt Group database is updated biannually (in April and September) to cover the latest period and the four previous periods.

What are the key metrics tracked in government debt statistics?

Gross Public Debt, Net Debt (three definitions), debt composition by currency, maturity, legislation, creditor, and holder.

What country-level sovereign debt information is available in the dataset?

Yes. The dataset provides standardized sovereign debt statistics for each LAC country, disaggregated by legislation, creditor, currency, maturity, and rate type.

How is public debt calculated for international databases?

Gross debt includes central government debt plus non-monetary central bank liabilities. Net debt is reported in three versions:
- Net Debt 1 = Gross Debt – Central Bank holdings
- Net Debt 2 = Net Debt 1 – International Reserves
- Net Debt 3 = Net Debt 2 – Pension Fund Assets