The national debt of China was approximately 16.65 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. Following a continuous upward trend, the national debt has risen by around 16.46 trillion U.S. dollars since 1995. Between 2024 and 2030, the national debt will rise by around 13 trillion U.S. dollars, continuing its consistent upward trajectory.

China Foreign Debt: U.S. Dollar data was reported at 966.080 USD bn in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,000.160 USD bn for Sep 2024. China Foreign Debt: U.S. Dollar data is updated quarterly, averaging 856.892 USD bn from Dec 2009 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,290.516 USD bn in Mar 2022 and a record low of 180.883 USD bn in Dec 2009. China Foreign Debt: U.S. Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table CN.FA: Foreign Debt: Quarterly.

Key information about China National Government Debt

• China National Government Debt reached 4,230.0 USD bn in Dec 2023, compared with 3,750.7 USD bn in the previous year.
• China National Government Debt data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2005 to Dec 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 4,230.0 USD bn in Dec 2023 and a record low of 404.1 USD bn in Dec 2005.

CEIC converts annual Government Debt into USD. Ministry of Finance provides Government Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Government Debt covers Central Government Debt only.


Related information about China National Government Debt

• In the latest reports, China Consolidated Fiscal Balance recorded a deficit equal to 4.8 % of its Nominal GDP in Mar 2024.
• The country's Government debt accounted for 24.0 % of its Nominal GDP in Mar 2024.
• China Nominal GDP reached 4,166.8 USD bn in Mar 2023.

China recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 88.30 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - China Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about China Government Debt: % of GDP

• China Government debt accounted for 25.6 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 25.1 % in the previous quarter.
• China government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2014 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 25.6 % in Dec 2024 and a record low of 14.0 % in Mar 2014.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. The Ministry of Finance provides Government Debt in local currency. The National Bureau of Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency. Government Debt covers Central Government only.


Related information about China Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, China National Government Debt reached 4,230.0 USD bn in Dec 2023.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 4,166.8 USD bn in Mar 2023.

As of December 2024, Japan held United States treasury securities totaling about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars. Foreign holders of United States treasury debt According to the Federal Reserve and U.S. Department of the Treasury, foreign countries held a total of 8.5 trillion U.S. dollars in U.S. treasury securities as of December 2024. Of the total held by foreign countries, Japan and Mainland China held the greatest portions, with China holding 759 billion U.S. dollars in U.S. securities. The U.S. public debt In 2023, the United States had a total public national debt of 33.2 trillion U.S. dollars, an amount that has been rising steadily, particularly since 2008. In 2023, the total interest expense on debt held by the public of the United States reached 678 billion U.S. dollars, while 197 billion U.S. dollars in interest expense were intra governmental debt holdings. Total outlays of the U.S. government were 6.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. By 2029, spending is projected to reach 8.3 trillion U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by Foreign and International Investors (FDHBFIN) from Q1 1970 to Q2 2025 about foreign, debt, federal, and USA.

As of the first quarter 2019, the ratio of debt owed by the government to GDP in China was at ** percent, an increase from **** percent compared to the the same period of the previous year. In economics, the ratio between a country’s government debt and its gross domestic product (GDP) is generally defined as the debt-to-GDP ratio.

Key information about China External Debt

• China External Debt reached 2,516.9 USD bn in Sep 2024, compared with 2,545.3 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• China External Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Jun 2003 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 2,746.6 USD bn in Dec 2021 and a record low of 182.6 USD bn in Jun 2003.

The State Administration of Foreign Exchange provides quartely External Debt in USD.


Related information about China External Debt

• In the latest reports of China, Current Account recorded a surplus of 147.6 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) fell by 8.3 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• China Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 34.5 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 24.0 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 4,166.8 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Key information about Hong Kong SAR (China) National Government Debt

• Hong Kong SAR (China) National Government Debt reached 190.1 USD bn in Mar 2024, compared with 181.7 USD bn in the previous year.
• Hong Kong SAR (China) National Government Debt data is updated yearly, available from Mar 2003 to Mar 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 190.1 USD bn in Mar 2024 and a record low of 45.3 USD bn in Mar 2003.

CEIC converts annual Government Debt into USD. The Treasury provides Government Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Government Debt covers Provision for Pensions, Bonds and Notes Issued and Other Liabilities. Government Debt is in annual frequency, ending in March of each year.


Related information about Hong Kong SAR (China) National Government Debt

• In the latest reports, Hong Kong SAR (China) Consolidated Fiscal Balance recorded a deficit equal to 6.1 % of its Nominal GDP in Sep 2024.
• The country's Government debt accounted for 49.1 % of its Nominal GDP in Mar 2024.
• Hong Kong SAR (China) Nominal GDP reached 91.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) in China was reported at 385484224724 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) in China was reported at 2420210835504 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

As of July 2019, the ratio of debt owed by non-financial corporates in local currency to GDP in China was at 148.4 percent. In economics, the ratio between a country’s government debt and its gross domestic product (GDP) is generally defined as the debt-to-GDP ratio.

In 2023, China held **** percent of foreign held U.S. securities. Japan held a further **** percent of foreign held securities. The national debt of the United Stated can be found here.

Key information about China External Debt: % of GDP

• China External Debt accounted for 13.4 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2023, compared with the ratio of 13.7 % in the previous year.
• China External Debt: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1985 to Dec 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 17.0 % in Dec 2014 and a record low of 5.1 % in Dec 1985.

CEIC calculates External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from annual External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange provides External Debt in USD. The National Bureau of Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Related information about China External Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of China, Current Account recorded a surplus of 146.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) fell by 8.1 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• China Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 33.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 36.9 USD bn in Jun 2024.
• The country's External Debt reached 2,545,309.4 in Jun 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 4,166.8 USD bn in Mar 2023.

China Local Government Debt Outstanding(including Contingent Liability) data was reported at 24,000,000.000 RMB mn in Dec 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 17,890,866.000 RMB mn for Jun 2013. China Local Government Debt Outstanding(including Contingent Liability) data is updated semiannually, averaging 16,888,349.000 RMB mn from Dec 2010 (Median) to Dec 2014, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24,000,000.000 RMB mn in Dec 2014 and a record low of 10,717,491.000 RMB mn in Dec 2010. China Local Government Debt Outstanding(including Contingent Liability) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Audit Office. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table CN.FA: Government Debt: National Audit Office.

In 2024, the total debt of nonfinancial sectors in China have grown to around ***** percent of the domestic gross domestic product (GDP). Private households had accumulated a total debt of ** percent of the GDP that year.

Present value of external debt (current US$) in China was reported at 488114430988 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Present value of external debt - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

China: External debt, percent of Gross National Income: The latest value from 2023 is 13.72 percent, a decline from 13.81 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 54.39 percent, based on data from 112 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1981 to 2023 is 12.66 percent. The minimum value, 2.96 percent, was reached in 1981 while the maximum of 19.4 percent was recorded in 1993.

External debt stocks, long-term (DOD, current US$) in China was reported at 1084231056087 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - External debt stocks, long-term (DOD, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.