External debt stocks, total in China
China: External debt stocks, total was 2.42 trillion DOD, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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$, in 1981.
That places China 1st out of 121 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.11 billion DOD, current US$ | 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
- Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure 40.0% (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure 5.0% (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added 34.67 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure per capita 5,364 constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure per capita growth 5.1% (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added 4.82 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 9.76 trillion constant LCU (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 3.9% (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 4.5% (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 10.72 trillion constant 2015 US$ (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 121 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.