The benchmark interest rate in Japan was last recorded at 0.50 percent. This dataset provides - Japan Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The central bank policy rate in Japan stood at *** percent in October 2025. In March 2024, the Bank of Japan raised short-term interest rates for the first time in 17 years, ending its negative interest rate policy. From August 2024 onwards, the central bank encouraged the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at **** percent. A third rate hike to *** percent was implemented in January 2025. In 2016, the Bank of Japan had introduced a policy of quantitative and qualitative monetary easing (QQE) with yield curve control, one component of which included controlling short-term and long-term interest rates through market operations.

Japan JP: Interest Rate Spread data was reported at 0.744 % pa in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.737 % pa for 2015. Japan JP: Interest Rate Spread data is updated yearly, averaging 3.170 % pa from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.211 % pa in 1962 and a record low of 0.737 % pa in 2015. Japan JP: Interest Rate Spread data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Interest rate spread is the interest rate charged by banks on loans to private sector customers minus the interest rate paid by commercial or similar banks for demand, time, or savings deposits. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.; Median;

In September 2025, global inflation rates and central bank interest rates showed significant variation across major economies. Most economies initiated interest rate cuts from mid-2024 due to declining inflationary pressures. The U.S., UK, and EU central banks followed a consistent pattern of regular rate reductions throughout late 2024. In September 2025, Russia maintained the highest interest rate at 17 percent, while Japan retained the lowest at 0.5 percent. Varied inflation rates across major economies The inflation landscape varies considerably among major economies. China had the lowest inflation rate at -0.3 percent in September 2025. In contrast, Russia maintained a high inflation rate of 8 percent. These figures align with broader trends observed in early 2025, where China had the lowest inflation rate among major developed and emerging economies, while Russia's rate remained the highest. Central bank responses and economic indicators Central banks globally implemented aggressive rate hikes throughout 2022-23 to combat inflation. The European Central Bank exemplified this trend, raising rates from 0 percent in January 2022 to 4.5 percent by September 2023. A coordinated shift among major central banks began in mid-2024, with the ECB, Bank of England, and Federal Reserve initiating rate cuts, with forecasts suggesting further cuts through 2025 and 2026.

Deposit Interest Rate in Japan remained unchanged at 0.23 percent in November. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Deposit Interest Rate in Japan.

Key information about Japan Policy Rate

• Japan cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Japan: Uncollateralized Overnight Call Rate) was set at 0.50 % pa in Nov 2025, compared with 0.50 % pa in the previous Oct 2025.
• Japan Policy Rate averaged 0.00 % pa and is updated monthly, available from Mar 2006 to Nov 2025.

CEIC calculates monthly Policy Rate from daily Uncollateralized Overnight Call Rate. The Bank of Japan provides Uncollateralized Overnight Call Rate. Policy Rate prior to March 2024 is calculated from daily Negative Interest Rate: QQE. Policy Rate prior to January 2016 is calculated from daily Interest Rate on Complementary Deposit Facility. As of April 2013, Bank of Japan has switched to the amount of monetary base as its main operating tool. Under this arrangement, the Complementary Deposit Facility Interest Rate can be used as an indication of monetary policy. It represents the interest paid on excess reserve balances (balances held at the account with the Bank of Japan in excess of required reserves under the reserve deposit requirement system). Policy Rate prior to December 2008 is sourced from daiily Uncollateralized Overnight Call Rate.


Related information about Japan Policy Rate

• In the latest reports, Japan Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: TIBOR: Japanese Yen: 3 Months was reported at 0.81 % pa in Nov 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Bonds Yield: Government Bonds: Newly Issued: 10 Years: Month End) was reported at 1.66 % pa in Oct 2025.
• Japan Exchange Rate against USD averaged 151.35 (USD/JPY) in Oct 2025.
• Its Real Effective Exchange Rate was 54.94 in Oct 2025.

Japan Key Interest Rate: Central Banks data was reported at 1.250 % in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.750 % for 2025. Japan Key Interest Rate: Central Banks data is updated yearly, averaging 0.100 % from Dec 1988 (Median) to 2026, with 39 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.625 % in 1990 and a record low of -0.100 % in 2023. Japan Key Interest Rate: Central Banks data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.OECD.EO: Interest Rate: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual.

In September 2025, the average uncollateralized overnight call rate in Japan stood at around **** percent. The end-of-month rate also reached **** percent. On March 21, 2024, the Bank of Japan ended its negative interest rate policy and made a shift to encouraging the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain between *** and *** percent. In its July 2024 Monetary Policy Meeting, the bank decided to raise the short-term interest rate to **** percent. In January 2025, a third rate hike to *** percent was implemented.

Japan JP: Lending Interest Rate data was reported at 1.045 % pa in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.143 % pa for 2015. Japan JP: Lending Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 6.151 % pa from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.113 % pa in 1974 and a record low of 1.045 % pa in 2016. Japan JP: Lending Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Lending rate is the bank rate that usually meets the short- and medium-term financing needs of the private sector. This rate is normally differentiated according to creditworthiness of borrowers and objectives of financing. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.; ;

In 2024, Japan had an average inflation rate of 2.74 percent. Japan's inflation rate had hit a record high in 2023 at 3.27 percent, marking the highest rate of inflation in Japan in recent times. However, this figure was still very low compared to most other major economies, such as Japan's fellow G7 members, four of which had inflation rates around six or seven percent in 2023 due to the global inflation crisis. Why is Japan's inflation rate lower? There are a number of contributing factors to Japan's relatively low inflation rate, even during economic crises. Japan eased its Covid restrictions more slowly than most other major economies, this prevented post-pandemic consumer spending that may have driven inflation through supply chain issues caused by higher demand. As the majority of Japan's food and energy comes from overseas, and has done so for decades, the government has mechanisms in place to prevent energy and wheat prices from rising too quickly. Because of this, Japan was able to shield its private sector from many of the negative knock on effects from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which had a significant impact on both sectors globally. Persistent deflation and national debt An additional factor that has eased the impact of inflation on Japan's economy is the fact that it experienced deflation before the pandemic. Deflation has been a persistent problem in Japan since the asset price bubble burst in 1992, and has been symptomatic of Japan's staggering national debt thereafter. For almost 30 years, a combination of quantitative easing, low interest rates (below 0.5 percent since 1995, and at -0.1% since 2016), and a lack of spending due to low wages and an aging population have combined to give Japan the highest national debt in the world in absolute terms, and second-highest debt in relation to its GDP, after Venezuela. Despite this soaring debt, Japan remains the fourth-largest economy in the world, behind the U.S., China, and Germany.

View market daily updates and historical trends for Japan 10 Year Government Bond Interest Rate. Source: Japan Ministry of Finance. Track economic data wi…

The average yearly yield of Japanese 10-year government bonds has shown a significant downward trend from 1990 to 2019. Starting at ***** percent in 1990, yields steadily declined, with slight fluctuations, reaching a low of ***** percent in 2019. After 2019, yields began to rise again, reflecting recent increases in interest rates and inflation expectations.

Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 5 Year data was reported at 0.075 % pa in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.120 % pa for Oct 2018. Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 5 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 0.500 % pa from Nov 2000 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 217 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.643 % pa in Jun 2007 and a record low of -0.159 % pa in Jun 2016. Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 5 Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.M015: Interbank and Swap Rates.

Japan Car Loan Market size was valued at USD 6.50 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 12.50 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2026 to 2032.

Japan Car Loan Market Drivers

High Vehicle Ownership and Urban Mobility Trends: Japan has a well-established automotive culture, with over 78 million registered vehicles and a car ownership rate of approximately 600 vehicles per 1,000 people. While urban areas have robust public transportation, car ownership remains a necessity in suburban and rural regions. As a result, car loans continue to be a preferred financing method for purchasing new and used vehicles.

Low Interest Rates and Competitive Loan Offers: Japan’s financial environment is characterized by ultra-low interest rates, with base lending rates hovering close to 0%. This makes car loans affordable and accessible, encouraging more consumers to opt for financing instead of making outright purchases. Banks, credit unions, and auto financing companies compete to offer attractive loan packages, including zero-down payment options, flexible repayment terms, and low fixed interest rates.

Growth of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Green Auto Loans: Japan is a global leader in EV technology, with automakers pushing for a transition to electric and hybrid vehicles. Financial institutions are introducing green auto loans that offer lower interest rates and government-backed incentives for purchasing environmentally friendly vehicles. The demand for EV financing solutions is expected to grow significantly as Japan aims for 100% electrification of new car sales by 2035.

Government bond spreads as of April 15, 2025, varied widely among the largest economies when compared to German Bunds and U.S. Treasury notes. The United Kingdom's bond spread was the higest against both, with ***** basis points (bps) over Germany and **** bps over the U.S. In contrast, China and Japan display negative spreads, with Japan having the lowest spread at ****** bps against U.S. Treasuries. Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada showed moderate spreads. Positive bond spreads indicate that a country’s government bonds have higher yields compared to the benchmark bonds - in this case, the German Bunds and U.S. Treasury notes. Higher spreads often signal perceived higher risk or economic uncertainty, as investors demand greater returns for holding these bonds. expectations. Conversely, negative spreads mean that these bonds offer lower yields than the benchmark. Negative spreads often indicate strong investor confidence, safe-haven status, or lower inflation expectations, as investors are willing to accept lower returns for the perceived stability of these bonds.

This review of liquidity traps unifies three landmark economic downturns — the U.S. Great Depression, the Great Recession, and Japan’s Long Recession — into a single analytical framework. We examine various forces that drive natural interest rates negative: temporarily (such as banking crises and debt overhangs) or perma- nently (such as demographic shifts and inequality). When policy rates hit the zero lower bound, conventional monetary tools lose traction. Under a standard monetary policy regime, counterintuitive paradoxes emerge: greater price flexibility deepens recessions, and positive supply shocks become contractionary. We show how policy effects — including the size of fiscal multipliers, forward guidance, and these paradoxes — depend crit- ically on the monetary-fiscal regime and on central-bank credibility. The paper explains how regime changes, such as Roosevelt’s 1933 abandonment of the gold standard and balanced-budget dogmas, successfully re- versed deep slumps by credibly shifting expectations. We examine whether secular-stagnation forces are likely to assert themselves in the coming decades.

Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 10 Year data was reported at 0.250 % pa in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.316 % pa for Oct 2018. Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 10 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 1.200 % pa from Nov 2000 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 217 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.169 % pa in Apr 2006 and a record low of -0.053 % pa in Jun 2016. Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 10 Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.M015: Interbank and Swap Rates.

Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 2 Year data was reported at 0.023 % pa in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.046 % pa for Oct 2018. Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 2 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 0.216 % pa from Nov 2000 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 217 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.261 % pa in May 2008 and a record low of -0.175 % pa in Feb 2016. Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 2 Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.M015: Interbank and Swap Rates.

In January 2020, prior to the onset of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, three of the seven largest economies by GDP had negative yields for two-year government bonds (Japan, Germany and France). With the onset of the pandemic, two-year bond yields in these countries actually rose slightly - in contrast to the other major economies, where yields fell over this period. As of December 2024, yields for two-year government bonds exhibited fluctuations across all countries. Notably, Japan showed a slight upward trend, while China experienced a modest decline.Negative yields assume that investors lack confidence in economic growth, meaning many investments (such as stocks) may lose value. Therefore, it is preferable to take a small loss on government debt that carries almost no risk to the investor, than risk a larger loss on other investments. As both the yen and euro are considered very safe assets, Japanese, German and French bonds were already being held by many investors prior to the pandemic as a hedge against economic downturn. Therefore, with the announcement of fiscal responses to the pandemic by many governments around March 2020, the value of these assets rose as confidence increased (slightly) that the worst case may be avoided. At the same time, yields on bonds with a higher return fell, as investors sought out investments with a higher return that were still considered safe.

Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 3 Year data was reported at 0.035 % pa in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.068 % pa for Oct 2018. Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 3 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 0.305 % pa from Nov 2000 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 217 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.380 % pa in May 2008 and a record low of -0.195 % pa in Feb 2016. Japan Interest Rate Swap: Yen: 3 Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.M015: Interbank and Swap Rates.