Real interest rate in China
China: Real interest rate was 5.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Real interest rate in China, 1980–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for real interest rate in China is 5.2%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real interest rate in China peaked at 7.3% in 1982 and was at its lowest, -8.0%, in 1994.
That places China 67th out of 148 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 | 2.3% | -2.8% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | -8.0% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | -2.4% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | -1.3% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | -0.1% | 5.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More financial sector data for China
- Domestic credit to private sector 194.3% (2024)
- Net domestic credit 353.25 trillion current LCU (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 11.94 (2025)
- Net foreign assets 30.27 trillion current LCU (2024)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 194.3% (2024)
- Claims on central government, etc. 46.0% (2024)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 194.3% (2024)
- Broad money 227.7% (2024)
- Official exchange rate 7.19 LCU per US$, period average (2025)
- Net migration -268,126 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is real interest rate in China?
- Real interest rate in China was 5.2% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest real interest rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 7.3% in 1982.
- What is the lowest real interest rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.0% in 1994.
- How does China rank for real interest rate?
- China ranks 67th out of 148 countries with data for 2024.
- Is real interest rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Real interest rate (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
An interest rate is the amount charged, expressed as a percentage of the principal over a period of time, by the owners of certain kinds of financial assets for putting the financial assets at the disposal of another institutional unit. The real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability. This indicator is expressed as a percentage (a÷b)*100.