Global debt rose to a record US$247 trillion in the year to the end of March, piling pressure on emerging markets. World debt has surged almost $150 trillion over the past 15 years.

A new report has shown how global debt has grown by US$75 trillion to $217 trillion in the decade since the 2007-08 financial crisis - reaching $28,900 of debt for every man, woman and child in the world.