Global debt has surged past $365 trillion, with rising interest costs squeezing government budgets and fuelling protests across Europe over cuts to public services.
01Summary
- 01Global debt rose by $10 trillion in the first half of 2026 to more than $365 trillion, according to the Institute of International Finance.
- 02Advanced economies paid more than $3.3 trillion in interest on government bonds over the past year, exceeding global defence spending of $3.1 trillion.
- 03France’s 10-year borrowing cost has risen to about 5 percent, the highest since 2002, and now exceeds those of Italy and Greece.
- 04More than 550,000 people demonstrated across France on Saturday, according to the Interior Ministry, amid protests over education and living costs.
- 05The IMF projects France’s public debt to reach 121.8 percent of GDP by 2030.
02Why it matters
Higher borrowing costs mean governments have less money for schools, hospitals and pensions, and may force tax rises or spending cuts that directly affect households and the economy.
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