Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate, %) in China
China: Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate, %) was 2.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Interest rate spread in China, 1980–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in lending rate minus deposit rate, %.
Analysis
China recorded 2.9% for interest rate spread in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, interest rate spread in China peaked at 3.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, -0.4%, in 1980.
China ranks 107th of 141 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate, %) in China, year by year
| Year | lending rate minus deposit rate, % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -0.4% | — |
| 1981 | -0.4% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | -500.0% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -50.0% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | -50.0% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | — |
| 1991 | 1.1% | +50.0% |
| 1992 | 1.1% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 1.1% | — |
| 1996 | 2.6% | +141.7% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | +13.8% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | -12.1% |
| 1999 | 3.6% | +37.9% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | -7.5% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.3% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.4%, 53% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- China's 2.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.0%, 57% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.6% | -0.4% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 0.0% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More financial sector data for China
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 14.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.95 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.8 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 14.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.95 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is interest rate spread in China?
- Interest rate spread in China was 2.9% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest interest rate spread recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 1999.
- What is the lowest interest rate spread recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4% in 1980.
- How does China rank for interest rate spread?
- China ranks 107th out of 141 countries with data for 2024.
- Is interest rate spread rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate, %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Interest rate spread is the interest rate charged by banks on loans to private sector customers minus the interest rate paid by commercial or similar banks for demand, time, or savings deposits. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.