External debt stocks, total in China
China: External debt stocks, total was 2.42 trillion DOD, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.42 trillion DOD, current US$
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
1st
of 122 countries
All-time high
2.72 trillion DOD, current US$
in 2021
All-time low
5.80 billion DOD, current US$
in 1981
Years of data
44
1981–2024
External debt stocks, total in China, 1981–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt stocks, total in China is 2.42 trillion DOD, current US$, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 36.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, total in China peaked at 2.72 trillion DOD, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.80 billion DOD, current US$, in 1981.
That places China 1st out of 122 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, total in China, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 5.80 billion DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1982 | 8.36 billion DOD, current US$ | +44.2% |
| 1983 | 9.61 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1984 | 12.09 billion DOD, current US$ | +25.8% |
| 1985 | 16.70 billion DOD, current US$ | +38.1% |
| 1986 | 23.72 billion DOD, current US$ | +42.0% |
| 1987 | 35.34 billion DOD, current US$ | +49.0% |
| 1988 | 42.44 billion DOD, current US$ | +20.1% |
| 1989 | 44.93 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 55.30 billion DOD, current US$ | +23.1% |
| 1991 | 60.26 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1992 | 72.54 billion DOD, current US$ | +20.4% |
| 1993 | 86.09 billion DOD, current US$ | +18.7% |
| 1994 | 100.67 billion DOD, current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 118.31 billion DOD, current US$ | +17.5% |
| 1996 | 129.04 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 146.91 billion DOD, current US$ | +13.8% |
| 1998 | 144.21 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 148.83 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 145.91 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 184.31 billion DOD, current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2002 | 185.47 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 207.18 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.7% |
| 2004 | 247.36 billion DOD, current US$ | +19.4% |
| 2005 | 285.86 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.6% |
| 2006 | 326.42 billion DOD, current US$ | +14.2% |
| 2007 | 377.75 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2008 | 386.42 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 454.50 billion DOD, current US$ | +17.6% |
| 2010 | 742.74 billion DOD, current US$ | +63.4% |
| 2011 | 1.05 trillion DOD, current US$ | +41.9% |
| 2012 | 1.15 trillion DOD, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 1.48 trillion DOD, current US$ | +28.9% |
| 2014 | 1.78 trillion DOD, current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2015 | 1.33 trillion DOD, current US$ | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 1.41 trillion DOD, current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 1.71 trillion DOD, current US$ | +21.0% |
| 2018 | 1.96 trillion DOD, current US$ | +14.7% |
| 2019 | 2.11 trillion DOD, current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 2.33 trillion DOD, current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 2.72 trillion DOD, current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2022 | 2.53 trillion DOD, current US$ | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 2.45 trillion DOD, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 2.42 trillion DOD, current US$ | -1.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2.42 trillion DOD, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.94 billion DOD, current US$, 127.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 2.42 trillion DOD, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.35 billion DOD, current US$, 157.7× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.11 billion DOD, current US$ | 5.80 billion DOD, current US$ | 44.93 billion DOD, current US$ | 9 |
| 1990s | 106.22 billion DOD, current US$ | 55.30 billion DOD, current US$ | 148.83 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 280.12 billion DOD, current US$ | 145.91 billion DOD, current US$ | 454.50 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.47 trillion DOD, current US$ | 742.74 billion DOD, current US$ | 2.11 trillion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.49 trillion DOD, current US$ | 2.33 trillion DOD, current US$ | 2.72 trillion DOD, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0081 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 111.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 79.98 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 87.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 56.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks, total in China?
- External debt stocks, total in China was 2.42 trillion DOD, current US$ in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, total recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.72 trillion DOD, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, total recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.80 billion DOD, current US$ in 1981.
- How does China rank for external debt stocks, total?
- China ranks 1st out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks, total rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Data are in current U.S. dollars.