China External Debt: % of GDP

1985 - 2022 | Yearly | % | CEIC Data

Key information about China External Debt: % of GDP

  • China External Debt accounted for 13.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2022, compared with the ratio of 15.4 % in the previous year.
  • China External Debt: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1985 to Dec 2022.
  • The data reached an all-time high of 17.0 % in Dec 2014 and a record low of 5.1 % in Dec 1985.

CEIC calculates External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from annual External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange provides External Debt in USD. The National Bureau of Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Related information about China External Debt: % of GDP

  • In the latest reports of China, Current Account recorded a surplus of 62.6 USD bn in Sep 2023.
  • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) fell by 11.8 USD bn in Sep 2023.
  • China Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 54.0 USD bn in Sep 2023.
  • Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 8.4 USD bn in Jun 2023.
  • The country's External Debt reached 2,433,801.4 in Jun 2023.
  • The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 4,166.8 USD bn in Mar 2023.

View China's External Debt: % of GDP from 1985 to 2022 in the chart:

China External Debt: % of GDP

What was China's External Debt: % of GDP in 2022?

China External Debt accounted for 13.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2022, compared with the ratio of 15.4 % in the previous year. See the table below for more data.

Last Previous Min Max Unit Frequency Range
13.7 2022 15.4 2021 5.1 1985 17.0 2014 % yearly 1985 - 2022

External Debt: % of GDP by Country Comparison

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Includes External Debt: % of GDP on 109 economies standardised by CEIC. Instant access to full history data in excel.
country/region Last Frequency Range
Albania (%) 54.1 2022 yearly 1991 - 2022
Algeria (%) 1.8 2022 yearly 1970 - 2022
Argentina (%) 44.9 2022 yearly 1994 - 2022
Armenia (%) 78.2 2022 yearly 2000 - 2022
Australia (%) 109.4 2023 yearly 1988 - 2023
Austria (%) 131.7 2022 yearly 1997 - 2022
Azerbaijan (%) 14.9 Dec 2021 quarterly Dec 2001 - Dec 2021
Bangladesh (%) 11.4 2017 yearly 1997 - 2017
Belarus (%) 49.6 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 2000 - Sep 2023
Belgium (%) 237.9 2022 yearly 2007 - 2022
Bolivia (%) 35.3 2022 yearly 2006 - 2022
Bosnia and Herzegovina (%) 20.8 2022 yearly 1999 - 2022
Botswana (%) 7.3 2023 yearly 1995 - 2023
Brazil (%) 27.9 2023 yearly 1992 - 2023
Bulgaria (%) 48.0 2023 yearly 1999 - 2023
Cambodia (%) 75.6 2022 yearly 2010 - 2022
Canada (%) 134.9 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Chile (%) 77.4 2022 yearly 1971 - 2022
China (%) 13.7 2022 yearly 1985 - 2022
Colombia (%) 53.1 2022 yearly 1970 - 2022
Croatia (%) 75.0 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
Cyprus (%) 609.6 2022 yearly 2004 - 2022
Czech Republic (%) 65.6 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Denmark (%) 124.1 2022 yearly 2005 - 2022
Ecuador (%) 51.6 2022 yearly 1970 - 2022
Egypt (%) 40.3 Jun 2023 quarterly Jun 1999 - Jun 2023
Estonia (%) 84.7 2022 yearly 1996 - 2022
European Union (%) 117.4 2022 yearly 2008 - 2022
Finland (%) 215.4 2022 yearly 1991 - 2022
France (%) 245.8 2022 yearly 2004 - 2022
Georgia (%) 94.2 2022 yearly 1999 - 2022
Germany (%) 155.8 2022 yearly 1999 - 2022
Ghana (%) 39.3 2022 yearly 1999 - 2022
Greece (%) 263.2 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Hong Kong SAR, China (%) 494.6 2022 yearly 2001 - 2022
Hungary (%) 152.6 2022 yearly 2006 - 2022
Iceland (%) 71.6 2023 yearly 1989 - 2023
India (%) 18.9 2023 yearly 1970 - 2023
Indonesia (%) 29.7 2023 yearly 2003 - 2023
Iran (%) 0.3 2023 yearly 1994 - 2023
Ireland (%) 563.9 2023 yearly 2002 - 2023
Israel (%) 29.1 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
Italy (%) 129.0 2022 yearly 2002 - 2022
Ivory Coast (%) 31.4 2021 yearly 1994 - 2021
Japan (%) 104.6 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Jordan (%) 80.0 2022 yearly 1970 - 2022
Kazakhstan (%) 64.8 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2002 - Sep 2023
Kenya (%) 35.0 2022 yearly 2006 - 2022
South Korea (%) 38.8 2023 yearly 1994 - 2023
Kosovo (%) 38.4 2022 yearly 2007 - 2022
Kuwait (%) 35.3 2022 yearly 2014 - 2022
Kyrgyzstan (%) 84.4 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Laos (%) 68.0 2022 yearly 1996 - 2022
Latvia (%) 98.8 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2000 - Jun 2023
Lebanon (%) 53.0 2020 yearly 2007 - 2020
Lithuania (%) 67.6 2022 yearly 1996 - 2022
Luxembourg (%) 4,521.9 2022 yearly 2002 - 2022
North Macedonia (%) 83.7 2022 yearly 2004 - 2022
Malawi (%) 60.1 2021 yearly 2006 - 2021
Malaysia (%) 68.2 2023 yearly 2009 - 2023
Malta (%) 971.6 2022 yearly 2004 - 2022
Mauritius (%) 1,432.7 2022 yearly 2009 - 2022
Mexico (%) 39.7 2022 yearly 2002 - 2022
Moldova (%) 65.2 2022 yearly 2000 - 2022
Mongolia (%) 174.0 2023 yearly 1992 - 2023
Montenegro (%) 141.5 2022 yearly 2006 - 2022
Morocco (%) 50.9 2022 yearly 1970 - 2022
Mozambique (%) 71.7 2020 yearly 1985 - 2020
Myanmar (%) 16.7 2020 yearly 2018 - 2020
Nepal (%) 17.3 2016 yearly 2001 - 2016
Netherlands (%) 374.5 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
New Zealand (%) 85.0 2022 yearly 1993 - 2022
Nigeria (%) 8.9 2022 yearly 1985 - 2022
Norway (%) 133.0 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Pakistan (%) 37.2 2023 yearly 2000 - 2023
Palestinian Territory (%) 11.4 2022 yearly 2012 - 2022
Panama (%) 167.4 2021 yearly 2014 - 2021
Paraguay (%) 54.2 2022 yearly 2000 - 2022
Peru (%) 41.8 2022 yearly 1980 - 2022
Philippines (%) 27.5 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Poland (%) 53.0 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Portugal (%) 166.0 2022 yearly 1996 - 2022
Qatar (%) 106.1 2018 yearly 2000 - 2018
Romania (%) 50.6 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Russia (%) 16.3 2023 yearly 1993 - 2023
Serbia (%) 69.4 2022 yearly 2000 - 2022
Singapore (%) 361.1 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Slovakia (%) 103.1 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Slovenia (%) 90.9 2022 yearly 2001 - 2022
South Africa (%) 40.5 2022 yearly 1985 - 2022
Spain (%) 193.4 2021 yearly 1995 - 2021
Sri Lanka (%) 74.7 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
Sudan (%) 202.2 2021 yearly 2001 - 2021
Sweden (%) 166.4 2023 yearly 1997 - 2023
Switzerland (%) 272.8 2022 yearly 1999 - 2022
Taiwan (%) 27.3 2023 yearly 1999 - 2023
Tajikistan (%) 37.7 2021 yearly 2000 - 2021
Thailand (%) 37.5 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2005 - Sep 2023
Tunisia (%) 92.1 2022 yearly 2002 - 2022
Turkey (%) 51.3 2022 yearly 1989 - 2022

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Government and Public Finance Last Frequency Range
Consolidated Fiscal Balance: % of GDP (%) -4.6 Dec 2023 quarterly Dec 1995 - Dec 2023
Consolidated Fiscal Balance (USD mn) -272,527.380 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1995 - Dec 2023
Tax Revenue (USD mn) 177,992.213 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1995 - Dec 2023
Tax Revenue: % of GDP (%) 12.1 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1995 - Dec 2023
National Government Debt (USD mn) 3,750,692.5 2022 yearly 2005 - 2022
Government Debt: % of GDP (%) 22.7 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Forecast: Government Expenditure (RMB bn) 58,979.220 2028 yearly 1982 - 2028
Forecast: Government Net Debt (RMB bn) 174,424.650 2028 yearly 1995 - 2028
Forecast: Government Revenue (RMB bn) 45,901.290 2028 yearly 1982 - 2028
Foreign Trade Last Frequency Range
Forecast: Exports of Goods Growth (%) 2.732 2028 yearly 1998 - 2028
Export to Import Ratio (%) 133.003 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1992 - Dec 2023
Trade Balance (USD mn) 75,340.4 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1992 - Dec 2023
Total Exports (USD mn) 303,618.3 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1992 - Dec 2023
Total Exports Growth (%) 28.1 Oct 2021 monthly May 2009 - Oct 2021
Aluminum: Exports (USD th) 26,004,555.285 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Exports: Medicament (USD th) 7,336,060.515 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Exports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product (USD th) 16,671,966.370 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Total Imports (USD mn) 228,278.0 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1992 - Dec 2023
Total Imports Growth (%) 20.8 Oct 2021 monthly May 2009 - Oct 2021
Imports: Medicament (USD th) 23,784,262.340 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Imports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product (USD th) 16,976,456.488 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Total Exports to USA (USD mn) 42,243.658 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1981 - Dec 2023
Total Imports from USA (USD mn) 14,937.852 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1981 - Dec 2023
Trade Index: Export: Quantum (Prev Year=100) 113.302 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2005 - Dec 2023
Trade Index: Export: Unit Value (Prev Year=100) 91.599 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2005 - Dec 2023
Trade Index: Export: Value (Prev Year=100) 103.783 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2005 - Dec 2023
Trade Index: Import: Value (Prev Year=100) 101.558 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2005 - Dec 2023
Trade Index: Import: Unit Value (Prev Year=100) 98.020 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2005 - Dec 2023
Trade Index: Import: Quantum (Prev Year=100) 103.609 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2005 - Dec 2023
Automobile: Exports: Total (USD mn) 16,715.645 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2003 - Dec 2023
Automobile: Exports: MC: Bus (USD mn) 2,372.397 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2003 - Dec 2023
Automobile: Exports: MC: Sedan (USD mn) 1,365.371 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2003 - Dec 2023
Automobile: Exports: Motorcycle (USD mn) 573.149 Dec 2023 monthly Mar 2003 - Dec 2023
Automobile: Imports: Total (USD mn) 7,191.282 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2003 - Dec 2023
Imports: Other, Apparatus Based on the Use of X-rays for Medical (USD th) 66,760.689 Mar 2018 monthly Jan 2003 - Mar 2018
Imports: Computed Tomography Apparatus (USD th) 92,098.563 Mar 2018 monthly Jan 2003 - Mar 2018
Exports: Massage Apparatus (USD th) 172,419.213 Mar 2018 monthly Jan 2003 - Mar 2018
Exports: Other Needles, Catheters, Cannulae and the Like (USD th) 96,906.178 Mar 2018 monthly Jan 2003 - Mar 2018
Imports: Other Needles, Catheters, Cannulae and the Like (USD th) 152,633.684 Mar 2018 monthly Jan 2003 - Mar 2018
Exports: Adhesive Plasters (USD th) 45,585.795 Mar 2018 monthly Jan 2003 - Mar 2018
CN: Steel: Import: Steel Product: Sheet & Plate (Ton th) 557.351 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2002 - Dec 2023
CN: Steel: Import: Steel Product: Rod & Bar (Ton th) 68.818 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2002 - Dec 2023
Balance of Payments Last Frequency Range
Direct Investment Abroad (USD mn) 43,300.0 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
Current Account Balance (USD mn) 55,200.0 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
Current Account Balance: % of GDP (%) 1.1 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
Foreign Direct Investment (USD mn) 17,500.0 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP (%) 0.4 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment (USD mn) -22,632.239 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment: % of GDP (%) -0.5 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities (USD mn) -10,862.5 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment: Debt Securities (USD mn) -11,769.716 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
External Debt (USD mn) 2,382,876.0 Sep 2023 quarterly Jun 2003 - Sep 2023
External Debt: % of GDP (%) 13.7 2022 yearly 1985 - 2022
External Debt: Short Term (USD mn) 1,331,100.0 Sep 2023 quarterly Jun 2003 - Sep 2023
External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP (%) 7.4 2022 yearly 1985 - 2022
Forecast: Current Account Balance (USD bn) 160.975 2028 yearly 1997 - 2028
Net International Investment Position (USD mn) 2,856,511.882 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2011 - Sep 2023
BoP: Current Account (CA) (USD mn) 55,200.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Credit (USD mn) 987,700.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Debit (USD mn) -932,500.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Goods (USD mn) 153,600.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Goods: Export (USD mn) 843,200.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Goods: Import (USD mn) -689,500.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Services (USD mn) -61,000.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Services: Credit (USD mn) 84,700.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Services: Debit (USD mn) -145,700.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Primary Income (USD mn) -41,800.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Primary Income: Debit (USD mn) -92,000.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Primary Income: Credit (USD mn) 50,200.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Secondary Income (USD mn) 4,400.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Secondary Income: Credit (USD mn) 9,700.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: CA: Secondary Income: Debit (USD mn) -5,300.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: Capital Account (USD mn) -100.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: Capital Account: Credit (USD mn) 30.297 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
BoP: Capital Account: Debit (USD mn) -100.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: FA: Asset (USD mn) -16,095.978 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
BoP: Financial Account (FA) (USD mn) -55,100.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: FA: Liability (USD mn) -46,104.972 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
BoP: FA: Non-reserve: Asset (USD mn) -54,324.358 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
BoP: FA: Non-reserve: Liability (USD mn) -46,104.972 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
BoP: FA: Reserve Asset (USD mn) -12,100.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
BoP: Net Errors and Omissions (USD mn) -438.385 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Sep 2023
BoP: FA: Non-reserve (USD mn) -43,000.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2023
CN: FDI: Utilized: ytd: Manufacturing (USD mn) 41,174.210 Dec 2018 quarterly Dec 1997 - Dec 2018
CN: FDI: Utilized: ytd: Mfg: Comm, Computer & Other Electronic Eq (USD mn) 8,408.270 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 1999 - Dec 2018
CN: FDI: Utilized: ytd: Wholesale and Retail Trade (USD mn) 9,766.890 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 2001 - Dec 2018
CN: FDI: Utilized: ytd: Real Estate (USD mn) 22,467.400 Dec 2018 quarterly Dec 1997 - Dec 2018
CN: FDI: Utilized: ytd: Leasing and Commercial Service (USD mn) 18,874.590 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 2001 - Dec 2018
Outward Investment: Latin America: British Virgin Islands (USD mn) 9,115.950 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Outward Investment: Asia: Singapore (USD mn) 8,295.380 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Outward Investment: Latin America: Cayman Islands (USD mn) 5,762.380 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Outward Investment: Leasing and Commercial Service (USD mn) 33,700.000 2023 yearly 2003 - 2023
Outward Investment: Information Transmission, Software and Information Technolog... (USD mn) 4,900.000 2023 yearly 2003 - 2023
Outward Investment: Wholesale and Retail Trade (USD mn) 29,200.000 2023 yearly 2003 - 2023
Outward Investment: Financial Intermediation (USD mn) 17,720.000 2023 yearly 2006 - 2023
Outward Investment: Manufacturing (USD mn) 27,900.000 2023 yearly 2003 - 2023
Outward Investment: Hong Kong (USD mn) 97,534.230 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Outward Investment: United States (USD mn) 7,292.080 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Industrial Enterprise: No of Loss Making Enterprise (Unit) 103,994.000 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1995 - Dec 2023
No of Business Entity: New Registration: ytd: Company (Unit mn) 9.040 Dec 2021 monthly Dec 2008 - Dec 2021
QFII: No of Institution: accumulated (Unit) 281.000 Apr 2015 monthly May 2003 - Apr 2015
QFII: Approved Investment Fund: accumulated (USD mn) 116,259.000 May 2020 monthly Jun 2003 - May 2020
Monetary Last Frequency Range
Non Performing Loans Ratio (%) 1.6 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 2005 - Dec 2023
Household Debt: % of GDP (%) 63.3 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2007 - Mar 2023
Non-Performing Loans (USD mn) 441,007.303 Jun 2022 quarterly Mar 2005 - Jun 2022
Money Supply M1 (USD mn) 9,272,053.180 Sep 2023 monthly Jan 1997 - Sep 2023
Money Supply M2 (USD mn) 39,662,938.596 Sep 2023 monthly Jan 1997 - Sep 2023
M2 Growth (%) 8.7 Jan 2024 monthly Mar 1997 - Jan 2024
Reserve Requirement Ratio (%) 7.0 Feb 2024 monthly Jan 1985 - Feb 2024
Foreign Exchange Reserves (USD mn) 3,219,320.0 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1989 - Jan 2024
Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import (NA) 14.2 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2000 - Dec 2023
Gold Reserves (USD mn) 148,229.000 Jan 2024 monthly Dec 1977 - Jan 2024
Total Deposits (USD mn) 40,425,662.383 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1997 - Jan 2024
Total Deposits Growth (%) 9.2 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1998 - Jan 2024
Domestic Credit (USD mn) 46,220,915.5 Jan 2024 monthly Jun 1999 - Jan 2024
Domestic Credit Growth (%) 10.4 Jan 2024 monthly Jun 2000 - Jan 2024
Debt Service Ratio: Private Non-Financial Sector (%) 21.600 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1999 - Sep 2023
Credit to Households (USD bn) 10,659.804 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2006 - Sep 2023
Credit to Private Non-Financial Sector (USD bn) 39,191.732 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 1985 - Sep 2023
Household Debt (USD mn) 11,313,226.3 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2007 - Jan 2024
Total Loans (USD mn) 33,834,887.475 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1997 - Jan 2024
Total Loans Growth (%) 10.36 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1998 - Jan 2024
Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP (%) 194.99 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 1992 - Sep 2023
Business and Economic Survey Last Frequency Range
Trade Policy Uncertainty Index (Index) 100.025 Feb 2024 monthly Jan 2000 - Feb 2024
Business Confidence Growth (% Point) -7.0 Feb 2024 monthly Jan 2006 - Feb 2024
Lagging Index (2015=100) 99.353 Feb 2020 monthly Jan 2001 - Feb 2020
Coincident Index (2015=100) 76.044 Feb 2020 monthly Jan 2001 - Feb 2020
Leading Index (2015=100) 92.852 Feb 2020 monthly Jan 2001 - Feb 2020

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