International debt issues to GDP (%) in China
China: International debt issues to GDP (%) was 8.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International debt issues to GDP in China, 1987–2020
Source: Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, international debt issues to gdp in China stood at 8.4%. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 569.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international debt issues to gdp in China peaked at 8.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2009.
That places China 98th out of 116 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International debt issues to GDP (%) in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1.6% | — |
| 1988 | 1.7% | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 1.4% | -14.2% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | +70.9% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | +10.2% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | -23.6% |
| 1996 | 1.9% | -9.0% |
| 1997 | 2.0% | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 1.8% | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 1.6% | -9.9% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | -8.2% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 1.3% | -7.8% |
| 2006 | 1.1% | -11.9% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | -12.4% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | +25.7% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | +29.4% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +30.3% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | +39.0% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | +44.1% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | +14.0% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | +19.0% |
| 2017 | 7.2% | +25.8% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 8.0% | +8.1% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | +4.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 8.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.5%, 48% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- China's 8.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 14.1%, 59% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 3 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 1.0% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 1.2% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 1 |
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 international debt issues to gdp in China?
- International debt issues to gdp in China was 8.4% in 2020, according to Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
- What is the highest international debt issues to gdp recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 8.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest international debt issues to gdp recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2009.
- How does China rank for international debt issues to gdp?
- China ranks 98th out of 116 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international debt issues to gdp rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 569.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Bank for International Settlements (BIS), published as part of International debt issues to GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total value of outstanding international debt issues both public and private, as a share of GDP. Offshore bank loan data from BIS Statistical Appendix Table 12A (Amount Outstanding): International debt securities - all issuers.