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World Bank warns global debt to reach new high at 99% of 2020 GDP

'The global community needs to act rapidly and forcefully to make sure the recent debt accumulation does not end with a string of debt crises,' a senior official said

Global government debt is expected to reach 99% of GDP in 2020 – a new record – as governments scrambled to support their economies as they ground to a halt under lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the World Bank has said.

The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects 5 January report said that the Covid-19 pandemic has made the “massive increase” in global debt levels “more dangerous”.

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