TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan's outstanding government debt rose to a record at the end of last year, data from the finance ministry showed on Monday, highlighting the worsening state of public finances in a country that has the world's largest debt burden.

Outstanding debts stood at 1,017 trillion yen (S$12.6 trillion) at the end of last year, the finance ministry said in a statement.

Japan's debt burden, at twice the size of its US$5 trillion (S$6.3 trillion) economy, is the worst among industrialised nations.