Here’s the CIA List.

Most of the ones at the top are oil exporting nations. Macau pays for most of its government by taxes on gambling.

Is it really valid to consider “countries” that are actually territories though? I know Macau is given a large degree of self-governance, but it’s still a territory of China (and Portugal before that) and as such doesn’t shoulder the cost of expenses like military defense.

That list was very interesting. I thought for sure Monaco would be in the black. America didn’t line up as badly as I thought it would as a percentage.

@JLeslie

Yeah, I was a little surprised at Monaco’s ranking, considering that it’s little more than a playground for the wealthy elite, and a tax haven.

Also, Cook Islands is part of New Zealand. I’m surprised at how high they are on the list, but they are also a tax haven, so I guess that helps.

That’s a list of budget surplus or deficit, but not of accumulated debt.