Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in Australia
Australia: Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) was 8.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Claims on central government, etc. in Australia, 1960–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for claims on central government, etc. in Australia is 8.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 7.8% on the previous year and up 437.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, claims on central government, etc. in Australia peaked at 19.7% in 1962 and was at its lowest, -2.8%, in 2006.
Australia ranks 106th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in Australia, year by year
| Year | % GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 19.2% | — |
| 1961 | 19.0% | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 19.7% | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 18.7% | -4.9% |
| 1964 | 18.5% | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 17.5% | -5.3% |
| 1966 | 17.4% | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 16.4% | -5.6% |
| 1968 | 15.5% | -5.4% |
| 1969 | 15.0% | -3.5% |
| 1970 | 13.2% | -11.7% |
| 1971 | 11.1% | -16.3% |
| 1972 | 12.0% | +8.6% |
| 1973 | 11.3% | -6.0% |
| 1974 | 10.2% | -9.4% |
| 1975 | 12.9% | +26.5% |
| 1976 | 12.7% | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 10.5% | -17.2% |
| 1978 | 10.3% | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 10.7% | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 11.0% | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 10.3% | -6.3% |
| 1982 | 7.6% | -26.9% |
| 1983 | 8.3% | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 7.9% | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 9.2% | +15.3% |
| 1986 | 10.0% | +9.5% |
| 1987 | 9.6% | -4.1% |
| 1988 | 8.1% | -15.8% |
| 1989 | 7.5% | -6.9% |
| 1990 | 5.5% | -26.5% |
| 1991 | 6.2% | +12.0% |
| 1992 | 8.6% | +38.4% |
| 1993 | 8.8% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 8.1% | -7.2% |
| 1995 | 7.9% | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | +16.9% |
| 1997 | 5.8% | -37.6% |
| 1998 | 5.8% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | -36.2% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | -38.7% |
| 2001 | -0.2% | -109.4% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -180.3% |
| 2003 | -1.2% | -801.6% |
| 2004 | -0.9% | -20.4% |
| 2005 | -1.6% | +73.7% |
| 2006 | -2.8% | +69.4% |
| 2007 | -1.5% | -46.4% |
| 2008 | -1.6% | +4.8% |
| 2009 | -0.5% | -65.4% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -191.1% |
| 2011 | -0.1% | -122.4% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -281.6% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -44.0% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | +550.3% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | +103.2% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | +108.1% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | +48.9% |
| 2019 | 6.2% | +40.7% |
| 2020 | 8.8% | +43.0% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | +66.1% |
| 2022 | 11.2% | -23.6% |
| 2023 | 9.2% | -18.3% |
| 2024 | 8.7% | -5.4% |
| 2025 | 8.0% | -7.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 8.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 68% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Australia's 8.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.7%, 1.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | -801.6% | 0.2% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | +550.3% | 0.1% | 0.7% |
| 2012 | +281.6% | -0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2010 | +191.1% | -0.5% | 0.5% |
| 2002 | +180.3% | -0.2% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.7% | 15.0% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.5% | 10.2% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.0% | 7.5% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.0% | 3.7% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.8% | -2.8% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | -0.1% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 8.0% | 14.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More financial sector data for Australia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 11.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 83.74 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 6.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 61.14 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 11.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 83.74 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 6.56 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is claims on central government, etc. in Australia?
- Claims on central government, etc. in Australia was 8.0% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest claims on central government, etc. recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.7% in 1962.
- What is the lowest claims on central government, etc. recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.8% in 2006.
- How does Australia rank for claims on central government, etc.?
- Australia ranks 106th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is claims on central government, etc. rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 437.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Claims on central government include loans to central government institutions net of deposits. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.