Direct investment, Debt instruments in Japan
Japan: Direct investment, Debt instruments was 177.87 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Direct investment, Debt instruments in Japan, 1996–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
Japan recorded 177.87 billion US dollar for direct investment, debt instruments in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 58.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct investment, debt instruments in Japan peaked at 186.70 billion US dollar in 2023 and was at its lowest, 21.88 billion US dollar, in 2005.
That places Japan 18th out of 149 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct investment, Debt instruments in Japan, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 45.30 billion US dollar | — |
| 1997 | 29.92 billion US dollar | -34.0% |
| 1998 | 27.31 billion US dollar | -8.7% |
| 1999 | 29.77 billion US dollar | +9.0% |
| 2000 | 26.30 billion US dollar | -11.7% |
| 2001 | 23.67 billion US dollar | -10.0% |
| 2002 | 23.32 billion US dollar | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 27.04 billion US dollar | +16.0% |
| 2004 | 24.32 billion US dollar | -10.1% |
| 2005 | 21.88 billion US dollar | -10.0% |
| 2006 | 25.31 billion US dollar | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 28.18 billion US dollar | +11.3% |
| 2008 | 46.16 billion US dollar | +63.8% |
| 2009 | 48.79 billion US dollar | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 49.83 billion US dollar | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 56.31 billion US dollar | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 63.10 billion US dollar | +12.1% |
| 2013 | 62.70 billion US dollar | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 101.61 billion US dollar | +62.1% |
| 2015 | 111.97 billion US dollar | +10.2% |
| 2016 | 112.89 billion US dollar | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 132.63 billion US dollar | +17.5% |
| 2018 | 162.55 billion US dollar | +22.6% |
| 2019 | 166.07 billion US dollar | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 174.78 billion US dollar | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 164.48 billion US dollar | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 165.81 billion US dollar | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 186.70 billion US dollar | +12.6% |
| 2024 | 179.82 billion US dollar | -3.7% |
| 2025 | 177.87 billion US dollar | -1.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 177.87 billion US dollar is above the median for high income countries, which is 42.99 billion US dollar, 4.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Japan's 177.87 billion US dollar is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.99 billion US dollar, 35.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.08 billion US dollar | 27.31 billion US dollar | 45.30 billion US dollar | 4 |
| 2000s | 29.50 billion US dollar | 21.88 billion US dollar | 48.79 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.97 billion US dollar | 49.83 billion US dollar | 166.07 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 174.91 billion US dollar | 164.48 billion US dollar | 186.70 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More external debt data for Japan
- Other investment, Debt instruments 2.12 trillion US dollar (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 3.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 1.10 trillion US dollar (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 17,154 US dollar per person (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 0.4772 US dollar per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 2.04 trillion (2025)
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government, Percent of -4.4 (2030)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 2.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government -2.48 (2030)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 8,935 US dollar per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct investment, debt instruments in Japan?
- Direct investment, debt instruments in Japan was 177.87 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest direct investment, debt instruments recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 186.70 billion US dollar in 2023.
- What is the lowest direct investment, debt instruments recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.88 billion US dollar in 2005.
- How does Japan rank for direct investment, debt instruments?
- Japan ranks 18th out of 149 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct investment, debt instruments rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
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.