The national debt of China amounted to 16.65 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. Following a continuous upward trend, the national debt has risen by 16.46 trillion U.S. dollars since 1995. Between 2024 and 2030, the national debt will rise by 12.97 trillion U.S. dollars, continuing its consistent upward trajectory.

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.

Key information about China Government Debt: % of GDP

• China Government debt accounted for 27.6 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Jun 2025, compared with the ratio of 26.5 % in the previous quarter.
• China government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2014 to Jun 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 27.6 % in Jun 2025 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 4,736.4 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 4,953.4 USD bn in Sep 2025.

The graph shows national debt in China related to gross domestic product until 2024, with forecasts to 2030. In 2024, gross national debt ranged at around 88 percent of the national gross domestic product. The debt-to-GDP ratio 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. It is a useful indicator for investors to measure a country's ability to fulfill future payments on its debts. A low debt-to-GDP ratio also suggests that an economy produces and sells a sufficient amount of goods and services to pay back those debts. Among the important industrial and emerging countries, Japan displayed one of the highest debt-to-GDP ratios. In 2024, the estimated national debt of Japan amounted to about 250 percent of its GDP, up from around 180 percent in 2004. One reason behind Japan's high debt load lies in its low annual GDP growth rate. Development in China China's national debt related to GDP grew slowly but steadily from around 23 percent in 2000 to 34 percent in 2012, only disrupted by the global financial crisis in 2008. In recent years, China increased credit financing to spur economic growth, resulting in higher levels of debt. China's real estate crisis and a difficult global economic environment require further stimulating measures by the government and will predictably lead to even higher debt growth in the years ahead.

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.

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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for General government gross debt for China (GGGDTACNA188N) from 1995 to 2024 about China, debt, gross, and government.

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.

External Debt in China decreased to 24198 USD Hundred Million in 2024 from 24475 USD Hundred Million in 2023. This dataset provides - China External Debt - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

United States Gross Purchases by Foreigners: China: US T Bonds & Notes data was reported at 14.512 USD bn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.034 USD bn for Aug 2018. United States Gross Purchases by Foreigners: China: US T Bonds & Notes data is updated monthly, averaging 3.055 USD bn from Jan 1977 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 501 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56.126 USD bn in Sep 2011 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Feb 1985. United States Gross Purchases by Foreigners: China: US T Bonds & Notes data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Department of Treasury. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Z039: Foreign Purchases and Sales in Long Term Securities: Asian Countries.

China Local Government Debt Outstanding data was reported at 24,000,000.000 RMB mn in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 15,885,832.000 RMB mn for 2012. China Local Government Debt Outstanding data is updated yearly, averaging 9,867,197.000 RMB mn from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2014, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24,000,000.000 RMB mn in 2014 and a record low of 4,509,831.000 RMB mn in 2007. China Local Government Debt Outstanding 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.

The outstanding value of China's general government debt securities has shown an upward trend from 2000 to the third quarter of 2024, rising from *** billion U.S. dollars to over ** trillion U.S. dollars. The largest increase occurred between 2019 and 2020, when it went from *** trillion to *** trillion U.S. dollars.

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 October of 2025.

Key information about China External Debt

• China External Debt reached 2,436.8 USD bn in Jun 2025, compared with 2,451.4 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• China External Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Jun 2003 to Jun 2025.

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 195.6 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 8.5 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• China Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 39.9 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 8.3 USD bn in Jun 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 4,953.4 USD bn in Sep 2025.

The value of U.S. Treasury securities held by residents of Russia amounted to ** million U.S. dollars in March 2025, marking a stark contrast to ***** billion U.S. dollars held in January 2020. The lowest over the period under consideration was recorded in November 2023 at ** million U.S. dollars. Furthermore, in March 2020, the figure plummeted to **** billion U.S. dollars, down from **** billion U.S. dollars one month prior. Russia’s holdings of U.S. treasury securities have decreased since 2014 following the Western sanctions over the annexation of Crimea and have further dropped in 2022 after more restrictions were imposed over the war in Ukraine. What are U.S. treasury holdings? U.S. treasury holdings are government debt instruments that contribute to the funding of various government projects in the country. The U.S. Department of Treasury allows individuals and organizations to invest in treasury notes, bills, and bonds, which are the main three types of securities. Just under half of the outstanding ** trillion U.S. dollars as of May 2024 were in the form of treasury notes. The notes have varying maturities and coupon payment frequencies, which are different from the maturity periods of treasury bills and bonds. Main foreign holders of U.S. treasury securities Foreign holdings of U.S. treasury debt amounted to ***** trillion U.S. dollars as of January 2024. Japan and China held the largest portions, with China possessing ***** billion U.S. dollars in U.S. securities. Additionally, other significant foreign holders included oil exporting countries and Caribbean banking centers.

Historical dataset showing China national debt by year from N/A to N/A.

China Government Debt Outstanding(including Contingent Liability) data was reported at 30,274,970.000 RMB mn in Jun 2013. This records an increase from the previous number of 27,769,191.000 RMB mn for Dec 2012. China Government Debt Outstanding(including Contingent Liability) data is updated semiannually, averaging 29,022,080.500 RMB mn from Dec 2012 (Median) to Jun 2013, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30,274,970.000 RMB mn in Jun 2013 and a record low of 27,769,191.000 RMB mn in Dec 2012. China 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.

Actual value and historical data chart for China Present Value Of External Debt Us Dollar

The yield on China 10Y Bond Yield held steady at 1.83% on December 2, 2025. Over the past month, the yield has edged up by 0.07 points, though it remains 0.16 points lower than a year ago, according to over-the-counter interbank yield quotes for this government bond maturity. China 10-Year Government Bond Yield - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.