Japan

Government debt in Japan

Government debt in Japan: 41.4% of GDP in 1980 and 213.6% of GDP in 2024, by IMF estimates.

Latest, 2024
213.6% of GDP
Since 1980
+172.2 percentage points
Projected, 2031
188.9% of GDP
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026)
Watch it change on the map

% of GDP · IMF

Government debt in JapanGovernment debt in Japan: 41.4% of GDP in 1980 and 213.6% of GDP in 2024, by IMF estimates. The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts it at 188.9% of GDP in 2031.
Estimates, IMFIMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026)

What the numbers say

  • The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts it at 188.9% of GDP in 2031.
  • The highest was 228.8% of GDP in 2020, the lowest 41.4% of GDP in 1980.

Every year

% of GDP · IMF

YearJapan
2024213.6
2023220.1
2022228
2021222.6
2020228.8
2019206.3
2018203.7
2017203.1
2016202.1
2015200.1
2014203.6
2013201.2
2012197.1
2011190.6
2010178.6
2009172.9
2008153.6
2007150.4
2006152.1
2005153.4
2004148.8
2003140.2
2002134.6
2001126.8
2000118.5
1999113.5
1998101.6
199791.3
199685.3
199580.7
199473.3
199363.2
199257.9
199154.1
199054.8
198956.9
198862.4
198765.8
198664.2
198559.2
198456.9
198355.1
198250.1
198145.8
198041.4
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2025–2031
YearJapan
2025204.8
2026199.4
2027196.4
2028193.8
2029191.5
2030190.1
2031188.9

Good to know

  • What the government owes, as a share of the economy’s yearly output.
  • Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
  • The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

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