🇨🇳 China National Debt Clock
Live tracker for China government debt. The national debt currently stands at
approximately $19.67 trillion, growing at $25K every second based on IMF fiscal
deficit projections. Debt-to-GDP: 96%. Per-citizen share: $13,961.
Narrow general-government basis; IMF augmented measure incl. LGFVs ≈124% of GDP
China's Debt Trajectory (2015–2026)
China's ratio has risen past its peak of 92% (2024) to roughly 96% today.
About China's National Debt
China's headline general-government ratio understates its true public liabilities. Beyond central and local budgets, provinces and cities have borrowed heavily through local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) and off-budget funds; the IMF's broader 'augmented' measure that captures these is far higher than the narrow figure shown here. Much of that borrowing financed infrastructure and property, and defusing this hidden debt is now one of Beijing's central economic challenges.
China's debt-to-GDP ratio of 96% exceeds the IMF's 90% threshold associated with potential growth drag. Stabilising it would require sustained primary surpluses — spending less than tax revenue before interest. By total government debt, China ranks 2nd of the 138 governments tracked here.
At the current borrowing rate of $25K per second, China adds about $2.2 billion to its national debt every day — roughly $788 billion per year. Each of China's 1409 million citizens carries an individual share of approximately $13,961. That is above the world average of roughly $12,600 in government debt per person.
Figures are computed by Global Debt Clock using linear extrapolation from IMF general government gross debt baselines (Fiscal Monitor / WEO April 2026) and national treasury data. Actual debt changes through discrete bond issuances — these counters illustrate the approximate scale and pace of sovereign borrowing.
China National Debt — Frequently Asked Questions
What is China's national debt right now?
China's national debt is approximately $19.67 trillion as of July 29, 2026, growing at $25K per second. Its debt-to-GDP ratio is 96% and each citizen's share is about $13,961.
How fast is China's debt growing?
China's government debt grows at approximately $25K per second — about $2.2 billion per day — derived from IMF fiscal-deficit projections anchored to the April 2026 baseline.
What is China's debt per capita?
Each of China's 1409 million citizens carries a notional share of approximately $13,961 of the national debt.
What is China's debt-to-GDP ratio?
China's debt-to-GDP ratio is 96%. This sits above the IMF's 90% threshold associated with potential growth drag.
Why is China's government debt at this level?
China's headline general-government ratio understates its true public liabilities. Beyond central and local budgets, provinces and cities have borrowed heavily through local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) and off-budget funds; the IMF's broader 'augmented' measure that captures these is far higher than the narrow figure shown here. Much of that borrowing financed infrastructure and property, and defusing this hidden debt is now one of Beijing's central economic challenges.
Compare China vs another country
Live side-by-side debt comparisons — shareable cards for journalists and social.
Further reading
Other Asia-Pacific countries
Data & Citation
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook · World Bank International Debt Statistics · baseline anchored .
Methodology: debt = 18,624,000,000,000 + 25000 × seconds_since(2025-04-01)
Machine-readable data: /api/debt?c=cn (live JSON) · /data/debt.json (full dataset)
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