Japan’s General Government Debt
#9 of 86 in the General Government Debt progress rankings
Expressed as the ratio of total public debt to GDP, this indicators covers obligations of central, state, and local governments. It provides an overall picture of fiscal pressure and sustainability, showing the burden of public liabilities on the economy (lower is better).
Latest (2023)
249.7 %
Year-over-year
-6.6 %
Change since start (1955→2023)
+236.2 %
Key insights
- From 1955 to 2023, General Government Debt changed by +236.2 %.
- Most recent year-over-year change (2022→2023): -6.6 %.
- Lowest level: 8.4 % in 1961.
- Highest level: 258.4 % in 2020.
General Government Debt Chart (1955–2023)
*Average based on available data from 193 UN member countries
General Government Debt Table (1955–2023)
| Year | General Government Debt |
|---|---|
| 1955 | 13.5 % |
| 1956 | 14.9 % |
| 1957 | 12.0 % |
| 1958 | 12.8 % |
| 1959 | 12.1 % |
| 1960 | 10.4 % |
| 1961 | 8.4 % |
| 1962 | 9.0 % |
| 1963 | 8.7 % |
| 1964 | 8.5 % |
| 1965 | 9.8 % |
| 1966 | 11.2 % |
| 1967 | 11.4 % |
| 1968 | 11.8 % |
| 1969 | 11.4 % |
| 1970 | 11.2 % |
| 1971 | 12.6 % |
| 1972 | 16.3 % |
| 1973 | 15.9 % |
| 1974 | 16.7 % |
| 1975 | 20.9 % |
| 1976 | 26.1 % |
| 1977 | 31.1 % |
| 1978 | 39.0 % |
| 1979 | 43.8 % |
| 1980 | 47.8 % |
| 1981 | 52.8 % |
| 1982 | 57.7 % |
| 1983 | 63.5 % |
| 1984 | 65.6 % |
| 1985 | 68.3 % |
| 1986 | 74.1 % |
| 1987 | 75.8 % |
| 1988 | 71.9 % |
| 1989 | 65.7 % |
| 1990 | 63.2 % |
| 1991 | 62.4 % |
| 1992 | 66.8 % |
| 1993 | 72.8 % |
| 1994 | 84.4 % |
| 1995 | 92.5 % |
| 1996 | 98.1 % |
| 1997 | 105.0 % |
| 1998 | 116.0 % |
| 1999 | 129.5 % |
| 2000 | 135.6 % |
| 2001 | 145.1 % |
| 2002 | 154.1 % |
| 2003 | 160.0 % |
| 2004 | 169.5 % |
| 2005 | 174.6 % |
| 2006 | 174.1 % |
| 2007 | 173.0 % |
| 2008 | 180.9 % |
| 2009 | 198.8 % |
| 2010 | 205.9 % |
| 2011 | 219.2 % |
| 2012 | 226.1 % |
| 2013 | 229.5 % |
| 2014 | 233.3 % |
| 2015 | 228.3 % |
| 2016 | 232.4 % |
| 2017 | 231.3 % |
| 2018 | 232.4 % |
| 2019 | 236.4 % |
| 2020 | 258.4 % |
| 2021 | 253.7 % |
| 2022 | 256.3 % |
| 2023 | 249.7 % |
Source: IMF DataMapper