Global Debt. Nothing makes the world more vulnerable to a downturn than its collective debt and since the financial crisis, world debt has surged to an all-time high. The Ratio of Debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Key Economies March ‘99 March ‘03 March ‘07 March ‘11 March ‘15 March ‘19 280% 300% 320% 340% 360% 380% 400% 100% 150% 200% 250% 300% U.S. China Germany Eurozone U.K. Japan (Right Axis) Total Credit to the Nonfinancial Sector as a Percentage of GDP SOURCE: Bank for International Settlements. FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ST. LOUIS