Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in Japan
Japan: Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) was 116.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Claims on central government, etc. in Japan, 1960–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, claims on central government, etc. in Japan stood at 116.6%.
The figure is down 12.7% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, claims on central government, etc. in Japan peaked at 150.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1963.
Japan ranks 1st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in Japan, year by year
| Year | % GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.7% | — |
| 1961 | 2.6% | -27.6% |
| 1962 | 1.6% | -39.3% |
| 1963 | 1.1% | -31.1% |
| 1964 | 1.4% | +30.2% |
| 1965 | 1.9% | +28.2% |
| 1966 | 2.9% | +55.8% |
| 1967 | 3.6% | +24.7% |
| 1968 | 3.8% | +4.6% |
| 1969 | 4.0% | +6.1% |
| 1970 | 6.8% | +70.2% |
| 1971 | 7.0% | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 8.7% | +25.7% |
| 1973 | 6.7% | -23.1% |
| 1974 | 7.1% | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 11.2% | +58.6% |
| 1976 | 14.1% | +25.7% |
| 1977 | 17.0% | +21.0% |
| 1978 | 21.3% | +25.0% |
| 1979 | 22.3% | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 24.0% | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 25.3% | +5.7% |
| 1982 | 27.7% | +9.6% |
| 1983 | 29.8% | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 31.6% | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 32.8% | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 35.6% | +8.7% |
| 1987 | 35.9% | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 36.0% | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 35.9% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 33.6% | -6.3% |
| 1991 | 31.6% | -6.0% |
| 1992 | 34.0% | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 37.8% | +11.1% |
| 1994 | 39.2% | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 43.2% | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 44.3% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 29.7% | -32.9% |
| 1998 | 39.6% | +33.4% |
| 1999 | 45.9% | +15.7% |
| 2000 | 52.2% | +13.7% |
| 2001 | 52.3% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 61.1% | +16.8% |
| 2003 | 71.3% | +16.6% |
| 2004 | 76.0% | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 74.7% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 72.4% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 71.1% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 79.8% | +12.4% |
| 2009 | 96.5% | +20.8% |
| 2010 | 103.3% | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 112.2% | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 119.1% | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 125.6% | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 133.0% | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 132.1% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 136.9% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 137.8% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 137.5% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 141.0% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 150.2% | +6.5% |
| 2021 | 146.6% | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 142.4% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 140.7% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 133.5% | -5.1% |
| 2025 | 116.6% | -12.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 116.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 9.9× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Japan's 116.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.7%, 20.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +70.2% | 4.0% | 6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.7% | 1.1% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.2% | 6.7% | 22.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 31.5% | 24.0% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.9% | 29.7% | 45.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.7% | 52.2% | 96.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 127.9% | 103.3% | 141.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 138.3% | 116.6% | 150.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More financial sector data for Japan
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 10.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0025 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 91.29 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 5.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0019 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 66.66 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 10.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0025 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 91.29 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 5.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is claims on central government, etc. in Japan?
- Claims on central government, etc. in Japan was 116.6% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest claims on central government, etc. recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 150.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest claims on central government, etc. recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1963.
- How does Japan rank for claims on central government, etc.?
- Japan ranks 1st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is claims on central government, etc. rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.