Abstract: This article is devoted to the state of public global public debt and new approaches towards its regulation in both developed and developing countries. The subject of this research is public debt in different groups of countries. Analysis of the situation with global public debt and the peculiarities of its regulation is necessary to learn positive foreign experience for its possible application in Russia. The following factors of significant increase of public debt are outlined: severe reduction of economic activity and decline in government revenue; increase of public spending, including related to anti-crisis measures; growing primary deficit, and this, the need to increase borrowings. The countries with low and middle income additionally face significant capital outflows from their financial markets, devaluation of national currencies, and difficulties with debt refinancing. Analysis is conducted on the structure and dynamics of public debt that developed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The author describes the risks associated with public debt. It is noted that many developed countries were able to adjust their financial operations in response to the growing need for borrowed funds: change the existing mechanisms for entering the debt market; amend the practice of conducting auctions government securities auctions. Developing countries need debt restructuring. The conclusion is made that the debt relief process requires new approaches towards debt management, including new methods of risk mitigation, enhanced control aimed at countering “credit bubbles”; clear regulation of debt restructuring observed by all creditors.