Direct investment, Debt instruments in China
China: Direct investment, Debt instruments was 528.91 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Direct investment, Debt instruments in China, 2004–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
The most recent figure for direct investment, debt instruments in China is 528.91 billion US dollar, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 34.4% on the previous year and up 188.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct investment, debt instruments in China peaked at 528.91 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.30 billion US dollar, in 2004.
China ranks 7th of 149 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct investment, Debt instruments in China, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1.30 billion US dollar | — |
| 2005 | 5.40 billion US dollar | +315.6% |
| 2006 | 19.71 billion US dollar | +264.8% |
| 2007 | 26.88 billion US dollar | +36.4% |
| 2008 | 46.76 billion US dollar | +74.0% |
| 2009 | 87.21 billion US dollar | +86.5% |
| 2010 | 104.95 billion US dollar | +20.3% |
| 2011 | 112.29 billion US dollar | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 140.23 billion US dollar | +24.9% |
| 2013 | 191.14 billion US dollar | +36.3% |
| 2014 | 141.81 billion US dollar | -25.8% |
| 2015 | 183.57 billion US dollar | +29.4% |
| 2016 | 229.97 billion US dollar | +25.3% |
| 2017 | 250.09 billion US dollar | +8.7% |
| 2018 | 299.27 billion US dollar | +19.7% |
| 2019 | 302.57 billion US dollar | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 316.89 billion US dollar | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 295.52 billion US dollar | -6.7% |
| 2022 | 307.61 billion US dollar | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 354.22 billion US dollar | +15.2% |
| 2024 | 393.40 billion US dollar | +11.1% |
| 2025 | 528.91 billion US dollar | +34.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 528.91 billion US dollar is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 663.05 million US dollar, 797.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- China's 528.91 billion US dollar is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.99 billion US dollar, 106.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Direct investment, Debt instruments in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +315.6% | 1.30 billion US dollar | 5.40 billion US dollar |
| 2006 | +264.8% | 5.40 billion US dollar | 19.71 billion US dollar |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.21 billion US dollar | 1.30 billion US dollar | 87.21 billion US dollar | 6 |
| 2010s | 195.59 billion US dollar | 104.95 billion US dollar | 302.57 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 366.09 billion US dollar | 295.52 billion US dollar | 528.91 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More external debt data for China
- IFC, private nonguaranteed 319.08 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita 0.2265 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP 0 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 0.6221 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 0.4% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA -105.01 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita -0.0745 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP -0 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD -596.31 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 1.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct investment, debt instruments in China?
- Direct investment, debt instruments in China was 528.91 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest direct investment, debt instruments recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 528.91 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest direct investment, debt instruments recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.30 billion US dollar in 2004.
- How does China rank for direct investment, debt instruments?
- China ranks 7th out of 149 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct investment, debt instruments rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 188.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Direct investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents or are gold bullion held as reserve assets; and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.