Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in Japan
Japan: Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP was 247.98 in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2015)
247.98
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
1st
of 188 countries
All-time high
249.11
in 2014
All-time low
4.44
in 1964
Years of data
140
1875–2015
Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in Japan, 1875–2015
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in Japan is 247.98, measured in 2015.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in Japan peaked at 249.11 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.44, in 1964.
That places Japan 1st out of 188 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1875 | 10.34 | — |
| 1876 | 10.17 | -1.6% |
| 1877 | 46.8 | +359.9% |
| 1878 | 42.56 | -9.1% |
| 1879 | 32.88 | -22.7% |
| 1880 | 34.02 | +3.5% |
| 1881 | 31 | -8.9% |
| 1882 | 32.15 | +3.7% |
| 1883 | 32.07 | -0.3% |
| 1884 | 32.55 | +1.5% |
| 1885 | 30.6 | -6.0% |
| 1886 | 31.23 | +2.0% |
| 1887 | 31.29 | +0.2% |
| 1888 | 29.68 | -5.1% |
| 1889 | 27.23 | -8.3% |
| 1890 | 26.06 | -4.3% |
| 1891 | 24.11 | -7.5% |
| 1892 | 24.7 | +2.4% |
| 1893 | 22.37 | -9.4% |
| 1894 | 24.37 | +8.9% |
| 1895 | 26.4 | +8.3% |
| 1896 | 24.63 | -6.7% |
| 1897 | 21.52 | -12.6% |
| 1898 | 18.84 | -12.5% |
| 1899 | 21.87 | +16.1% |
| 1900 | 21.49 | -1.8% |
| 1901 | 22.89 | +6.5% |
| 1902 | 23.04 | +0.7% |
| 1903 | 22.9 | -0.6% |
| 1904 | 35.63 | +55.6% |
| 1905 | 68.53 | +92.4% |
| 1906 | 70.47 | +2.8% |
| 1907 | 61.58 | -12.6% |
| 1908 | 60.88 | -1.1% |
| 1909 | 70.14 | +15.2% |
| 1910 | 70.84 | +1.0% |
| 1911 | 61.44 | -13.3% |
| 1912 | 57.62 | -6.2% |
| 1913 | 53.59 | -7.0% |
| 1914 | 55.92 | +4.4% |
| 1915 | 53.25 | -4.8% |
| 1916 | 43.31 | -18.7% |
| 1917 | 33.43 | -22.8% |
| 1918 | 27.5 | -17.8% |
| 1919 | 22.58 | -17.9% |
| 1920 | 25.58 | +13.3% |
| 1921 | 29.09 | +13.7% |
| 1922 | 29.55 | +1.6% |
| 1923 | 33.84 | +14.5% |
| 1924 | 33.15 | -2.0% |
| 1925 | 33.38 | +0.7% |
| 1926 | 35.23 | +5.5% |
| 1927 | 36.74 | +4.3% |
| 1928 | 39.06 | +6.3% |
| 1929 | 40.38 | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 49.41 | +22.4% |
| 1931 | 56.34 | +14.0% |
| 1932 | 60.65 | +7.7% |
| 1933 | 62.21 | +2.6% |
| 1934 | 62.4 | +0.3% |
| 1935 | 62.9 | +0.8% |
| 1936 | 63.5 | +1.0% |
| 1937 | 57.01 | -10.2% |
| 1938 | 66.89 | +17.3% |
| 1939 | 71.23 | +6.5% |
| 1940 | 78.7 | +10.5% |
| 1941 | 93.07 | +18.3% |
| 1942 | 105.09 | +12.9% |
| 1943 | 133.36 | +26.9% |
| 1944 | 203.95 | +52.9% |
| 1946 | 55.98 | -72.6% |
| 1947 | 27.55 | -50.8% |
| 1948 | 19.67 | -28.6% |
| 1949 | 18.88 | -4.0% |
| 1950 | 14.04 | -25.7% |
| 1951 | 11.86 | -15.5% |
| 1952 | 13.2 | +11.3% |
| 1953 | 12.06 | -8.6% |
| 1954 | 11.91 | -1.3% |
| 1955 | 12.3 | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 10.37 | -15.7% |
| 1957 | 8.77 | -15.4% |
| 1958 | 9.08 | +3.5% |
| 1959 | 9.02 | -0.7% |
| 1960 | 8.03 | -10.9% |
| 1961 | 6.06 | -24.5% |
| 1962 | 5.74 | -5.4% |
| 1963 | 4.52 | -21.3% |
| 1964 | 4.44 | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 5.23 | +17.9% |
| 1966 | 6.71 | +28.2% |
| 1967 | 8.22 | +22.6% |
| 1968 | 8.71 | +5.9% |
| 1969 | 11.96 | +37.4% |
| 1970 | 11.95 | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 14.18 | +18.7% |
| 1972 | 18.38 | +29.7% |
| 1973 | 18.11 | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 18.87 | +4.2% |
| 1975 | 23.87 | +26.5% |
| 1976 | 29.07 | +21.8% |
| 1977 | 35.12 | +20.8% |
| 1978 | 41.69 | +18.7% |
| 1979 | 47.59 | +14.1% |
| 1980 | 50.63 | +6.4% |
| 1981 | 55.29 | +9.2% |
| 1982 | 59.26 | +7.2% |
| 1983 | 64.83 | +9.4% |
| 1984 | 66.34 | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 66.67 | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 69.93 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 72.46 | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 70.35 | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 67.3 | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 67.04 | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 66.49 | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 71.22 | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 77.27 | +8.5% |
| 1994 | 86.22 | +11.6% |
| 1995 | 95.07 | +10.3% |
| 1996 | 102.29 | +7.6% |
| 1997 | 109.1 | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 121.63 | +11.5% |
| 1999 | 135.61 | +11.5% |
| 2000 | 143.78 | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 153.63 | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 163.99 | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 169.57 | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 180.66 | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 186.44 | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 186 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 183.01 | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 191.81 | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 210.25 | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 215.82 | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 231.63 | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 238.01 | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 244.48 | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 249.11 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 247.98 | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 28.55 | 10.17 | 46.8 | 5 |
| 1880s | 31.18 | 27.23 | 34.02 | 10 |
| 1890s | 23.49 | 18.84 | 26.4 | 10 |
| 1900s | 45.76 | 21.49 | 70.47 | 10 |
| 1910s | 47.95 | 22.58 | 70.84 | 10 |
| 1920s | 33.6 | 25.58 | 40.38 | 10 |
| 1930s | 61.25 | 49.41 | 71.23 | 10 |
| 1940s | 81.81 | 18.88 | 203.95 | 9 |
| 1950s | 11.26 | 8.77 | 14.04 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.96 | 4.44 | 11.96 | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.88 | 11.95 | 47.59 | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.31 | 50.63 | 72.46 | 10 |
| 1990s | 93.19 | 66.49 | 135.61 | 10 |
| 2000s | 176.91 | 143.78 | 210.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 237.84 | 215.82 | 249.11 | 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 gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in Japan?
- Gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in Japan was 247.98 in 2015, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 249.11 in 2014.
- What is the lowest gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.44 in 1964.
- How does Japan rank for gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp?
- Japan ranks 1st out of 188 countries with data for 2015.
- Is gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.0%. 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 Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Historical Public Debt Database contains unbalanced panel data on Gross Domestic Product, Gross Government Debt, and Debt to GDP Ratio for 187 countries. The series spans the years 1800 through 2015 although each country’s data depends on its date of independence and data availability.