Main menu For students For teachers Explore our subjects Student events & courses

Explore

More for students
Sign in

Free Economics resources

Topic Videos

Difference between National Debt and External Debt

Level:
A-Level
Board:
AQA, Edexcel, Eduqas, IB, OCR, WJEC

Last updated 29 Dec 2017

Share this content:

National debt is the accumulated level of debt owed by the government of a country. External debt is debt owed by the government, businesses and people of a country to overseas lenders such as banks, the IMF, foreign companies and other creditors.

Share this content:

You might also like

Macro Case Study: ECB and Eurozone stability

Topical case studies

Macro Case Study: Argentina and debt

Topical case studies

In the News Teaching Activity – Are the UK’s public finances becoming more sustainable? (Mar 2026)

2nd March 2026

In the News Teaching Activity – Can the Budget measures help to boost UK living standards? (Dec 2025)

1st December 2025

In the News Teaching Activity – how concerning is the increase in government borrowing? (Jan 2025)

30th January 2025

What Are Government Bonds? - Economics Mastery Series

9th January 2025

In the News Teaching Activity – how will the Budget’s fiscal changes affect the economy? (Nov 2024)

7th November 2024

In the News Teaching Activity – will the Chancellor relax fiscal rules to invest? (Oct 2024)

14th October 2024