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.

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.

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.

Key information about China Household Debt

• China Household Debt reached 11,498.4 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with the reported number of 11,347.6 USD bn in the previous month
• China Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2007 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 11,691.0 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 517.7 USD bn in Jan 2007

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. The People's Bank of China provides Household Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics.


Further information about China Household Debt

• In the latest reports, China Household Debt accounted for 63.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Mar 2023
• Money Supply M2 in China increased 44,045.8 USD bn YoY in Sep 2024
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,209.0 USD bn in Jan 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 13.9 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• China Domestic Credit reached 49,338.1 USD bn in Jan 2025, representing an increased of 7.9 % YoY

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 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 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.

Developing and emerging market economies have increased their debt exposure to China in recent years. Despite its initial promise, many borrowers of Chinese loans face difficulties in meeting these loan obligations. Under what circumstances do Chinese borrowers in debt distress turn to the International Monetary Fund? Our starting point is that Chinese loans are tied into projects that promise to generate sufficient revenue to repay these loans. We expect that governments turn to the IMF for bailout funding when a severe shock erodes the value of the underlying loan collateral, requiring mobilizing revenues and implementing austerity measures. Without alternative financing options, the IMF becomes the most viable option to weather financial distress. We expect governments to accept a `whatever-it-takes' number of loan conditions. Using cross-country time series analysis for up to 162 countries between 2000 and 2018, we show that defaults on Chinese debt trigger IMF programs only when a country experiences a severe adverse shock. Countries tapping the IMF also accept a greater number of loan conditions. From a policy perspective, current financial distress in borrowing countries underscores the urgency to design and deploy targeted governance reform measures beyond program safeguards and loan conditions to mitigate the built-up of macro-financial vulnerabilities, independent of where the money is coming from.

Angola was the main borrower from China in Africa between 2000 and 2020. Loan commitments signed between Chinese financiers and the Angolan government summed 42.6 billion U.S. dollars. In the same period, China lent around 160 billion U.S. dollars to African countries. Ethiopia and Zambia were as well on the top list of leading borrowers. The countries were granted 13.7 billion and 10.1 billion U.S. dollars, respectively.

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

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.

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.

The yield on China 10Y Bond Yield eased to 1.65% on June 27, 2025, marking a 0 percentage point decrease from the previous session. Over the past month, the yield has fallen by 0.06 points and is 0.56 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 June of 2025.

As of February 2023, the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota was the company with the highest debt worldwide, amounting to 217 billion U.S. dollars. The Chinese property developer Evergrande followed in second with a debt of roughly 170 billion U.S. dollars, with Volkswagen following in third.

This statistic shows the national debt of important industrial and emerging countries in 2023 in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP). In 2023, the national debt of China was at about 83.64 percent of the gross domestic product.

The benchmark interest rate in China was last recorded at 3 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - China Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about China Non Performing Loans Ratio

• China Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.5 % in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 1.6 % in the previous quarter
• China Non Performing Loans Ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2005 to Dec 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 12.4 % in Mar 2005 and a record low of 0.9 % in Sep 2011

The National Financial Regulatory Administration provides quarterly Non Performing Loan Ratio.


Further information about China Non Performing Loans Ratio

• In the latest reports, Money Supply M2 in China increased 7.0 % YoY in Jan 2025
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,209.0 USD bn in Jan 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 13.9 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• The country's Domestic Credit reached 49,338.1 USD bn in Jan 2025, representing an increased of 7.9 % YoY
• Household Debt of China reached 11,498.4 USD bn in Jan 2025, accounting for 63.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP

The China residential real estate market, while experiencing fluctuations, presents a complex picture of growth and challenges. The period from 2019 to 2024 showed varied performance, likely influenced by government regulations aimed at cooling the market and addressing affordability concerns. Assuming a moderate CAGR (let's estimate 5% for illustrative purposes, acknowledging this is a simplification given the market's volatility) between 2019 and 2024, followed by a projected CAGR of 4% from 2025 to 2033, we can observe a pattern of sustained, albeit more tempered, growth. The market size in 2025 serves as a crucial base for future projections. Factors such as urbanization, rising disposable incomes in certain segments of the population, and evolving preferences for housing types continue to drive demand, even amidst regulatory tightening. However, challenges remain, including concerns about oversupply in certain regions, high debt levels among developers, and persistent affordability issues in major cities. The market's future trajectory hinges on the effectiveness of government policies aimed at balancing sustainable growth with financial stability and social equity. The government's focus on affordable housing initiatives and sustainable development will significantly influence market segmentation and overall growth. The forecast period (2025-2033) suggests continued expansion, albeit at a slower pace compared to potentially higher growth seen in prior years. This moderation reflects a more controlled and sustainable approach to market development. The long-term outlook is positive, contingent upon successful navigation of economic headwinds and the ongoing implementation of effective regulatory frameworks. Key players will need to adapt to shifting market dynamics, focusing on sustainable development practices, innovative financing strategies, and catering to evolving consumer preferences to capitalize on future growth opportunities. Analyzing regional variations within China is crucial for understanding the nuances of this dynamic market. Recent developments include: February 2022: Dar Al-Arkan, a Saudi real estate corporation, announced the creation of an office in Beijing, China. The move is in accordance with Dar Al-strategic Arkan's expansion ambitions and builds on the company's global brand development efforts. The company's Beijing office is expected to serve a variety of tasks, including establishing joint ventures between Dar Al-Arkan and renowned Chinese real estate developers for both the Chinese and Saudi markets, as well as enhancing investment and knowledge-sharing opportunities between the two countries. Dar Al-office Arkan's will serve as a hub for Chinese enterprises and investors looking to expand, start businesses, or invest in the Kingdom., February 2022: China Evergrande Group announced that it sold stakes and "right to debt" in four developments to two state-owned trust firms for CNY 2.13 billion (USD 0.35 billion), in a move to ensure their construction goes ahead as well as delivery of its other projects. The world's most indebted property developer is struggling to complete projects and homes - deemed a priority by China's policymakers to ensure social stability - while weighed down by its more than USD 300 billion in liabilities. Evergrande sold its stake and right to debt in a residential development in Chongqing and Dongguan to Everbright Trust for CNY 1.03 billion (USD 0.19 billion), as well as those in a housing project in Foshan and a theme park development in Guangzhou to Minmetals Trust for CNY 1.1 billion (USD 0.16 billion).. Notable trends are: Urbanization Driving the Residential Real Estate Market.

In 2023, the value of personal housing loans in China amounted to 38.17 trillion yuan, representing a slight drop of 1.6 percent compared to the previous year. The overall value of outstanding mortgages more than doubled between 2016 and 2021 before it plateaued afterwards.

A key factor to the growth of the real estate market China's personal housing loan market emerged in the 1990s in tandem with the marketization of the country's real estate sector. Its subsequent expansion also mirrored the growth in the property industry. Thanks to the dramatic rise in home prices across China since the early 2000s, substantial capital has poured into the market through real estate development loans and personal housing credits. For almost two decades, many Chinese middle class citizens accumulated their personal wealth through the considerable appreciation of their properties, which they financed with the help of mortgages.

Risks The persistently high level of outstanding personal mortgage is becoming increasingly concerning amidst China’s current economic and market situation. With the country’s economic slowdown and the oversupply in the property sector, the housing market is losing steam, resulting in elevated risks of bad debts to financial institutions. At the same time, the household debt in China is now staying above 60 percent of the country’s GDP, undermining the ability to consume and invest in the Chinese population.