Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government in Japan
Japan: Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government was -18.03 trillion in 2031. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2031)
-18.03 trillion
Change on year
down 7.5%
World rank
22nd
of 24 countries
All-time high
14.60 trillion
in 1990
All-time low
-46.80 trillion
in 1998
Years of data
52
1980–2031
Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government in Japan, 1980–2031
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in Japan is -18.03 trillion, measured in 2031.
That represents a change of down 7.5% on the previous year and up 45.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in Japan peaked at 14.60 trillion in 1990 and was at its lowest, -46.80 trillion, in 1998.
Japan ranks 22nd of 24 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -8.32 trillion | — |
| 1981 | -7.03 trillion | -15.5% |
| 1982 | -6.56 trillion | -6.6% |
| 1983 | -6.18 trillion | -5.9% |
| 1984 | -1.86 trillion | -69.9% |
| 1985 | 2.31 trillion | -224.2% |
| 1986 | 2.28 trillion | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 5.83 trillion | +155.4% |
| 1988 | 8.77 trillion | +50.5% |
| 1989 | 11.41 trillion | +30.1% |
| 1990 | 14.60 trillion | +28.0% |
| 1991 | 13.24 trillion | -9.3% |
| 1992 | 8.43 trillion | -36.3% |
| 1993 | -6.28 trillion | -174.5% |
| 1994 | -13.69 trillion | +117.9% |
| 1995 | -16.31 trillion | +19.1% |
| 1996 | -19.55 trillion | +19.9% |
| 1997 | -12.56 trillion | -35.8% |
| 1998 | -46.80 trillion | +272.6% |
| 1999 | -28.64 trillion | -38.8% |
| 2000 | -31.86 trillion | +11.3% |
| 2001 | -26.06 trillion | -18.2% |
| 2002 | -31.63 trillion | +21.4% |
| 2003 | -32.40 trillion | +2.4% |
| 2004 | -22.33 trillion | -31.1% |
| 2005 | -19.21 trillion | -14.0% |
| 2006 | -12.80 trillion | -33.4% |
| 2007 | -11.77 trillion | -8.0% |
| 2008 | -17.25 trillion | +46.6% |
| 2009 | -43.07 trillion | +149.7% |
| 2010 | -40.78 trillion | -5.3% |
| 2011 | -39.26 trillion | -3.7% |
| 2012 | -35.48 trillion | -9.6% |
| 2013 | -33.49 trillion | -5.6% |
| 2014 | -23.75 trillion | -29.1% |
| 2015 | -14.37 trillion | -39.5% |
| 2016 | -14.08 trillion | -2.0% |
| 2017 | -12.07 trillion | -14.3% |
| 2018 | -9.47 trillion | -21.5% |
| 2019 | -13.62 trillion | +43.8% |
| 2020 | -46.64 trillion | +242.4% |
| 2021 | -32.91 trillion | -29.4% |
| 2022 | -22.39 trillion | -32.0% |
| 2023 | -13.37 trillion | -40.3% |
| 2024 | -9.84 trillion | -26.4% |
| 2025 | -5.67 trillion | -42.4% |
| 2026 | -11.78 trillion | +107.7% |
| 2027 | -11.90 trillion | +1.0% |
| 2028 | -13.90 trillion | +16.8% |
| 2029 | -15.03 trillion | +8.2% |
| 2030 | -16.78 trillion | +11.6% |
| 2031 | -18.03 trillion | +7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 65.55 billion | -8.32 trillion | 11.41 trillion | 10 |
| 1990s | -10.76 trillion | -46.80 trillion | 14.60 trillion | 10 |
| 2000s | -24.84 trillion | -43.07 trillion | -11.77 trillion | 10 |
| 2010s | -23.64 trillion | -40.78 trillion | -9.47 trillion | 10 |
| 2020s | -18.34 trillion | -46.64 trillion | -5.67 trillion | 10 |
| 2030s | -17.40 trillion | -18.03 trillion | -16.78 trillion | 2 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 19 Thailand -180.59 billion compare
- 20 Türkiye -555.12 billion compare
- 21 India -9.71 trillion compare
- 23 Republic of Korea -29.09 trillion compare
- 24 Iran, Islamic Republic of -35,211.60 trillion compare
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 primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in Japan?
- Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in Japan was -18.03 trillion in 2031, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 14.60 trillion in 1990.
- What is the lowest primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -46.80 trillion in 1998.
- How does Japan rank for primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government?
- Japan ranks 22nd out of 24 countries with data for 2031.
- Is primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.2%. 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 Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government, Domestic currency (9/26/2025). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
The World Economic Outlook (WEO) database is created during the biannual WEO exercise, which begins in January and June of each year and results in the April and September/October WEO publication. Selected series from the publication are available in a database format.