China Private Debt to GDP

Credit to the private non-financial sector (households and companies) as a percentage of GDP.

Private Debt to GDP in China increased to 204.10 percent of GDP in Q1 2026 from 200.80 percent of GDP in Q4 2025.

204.1%
▲ +3.3 ppQ1 2026 · previous 200.8%Quarterly · percent of GDP · Source: Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

China Private Debt to GDP — History

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China Private Debt to GDP — analysis in simple words

Latest reading

Private Debt to GDP in China increased to 204.10 percent of GDP in Q1 2026 from 200.80 percent of GDP in Q4 2025.

Over the last three quarters it rose once and fell twice.

Recent trend

A year earlier (Q1 2025) it was 201.9%, so the latest figure is 2.2 percentage points higher.

Over the past five years the average was 194.0%, with a range from 182.5% to 204.1%. The latest value is above that five-year average.

Historical context

This data series starts in Q4 1985 and has 162 quarterly observations. The latest reading is higher than 99% of all of them.

The highest value on record is 204.1% (Q1 2026) and the lowest is 61.5% (Q1 1986). The long-run average is 125.6%.

Compared with other countries

Among 43 economies with recent data, China ranks 10th from the top. The median across all these economies is 130.3%, so China is above the typical country.

Among 19 major economies tracked on this site it ranks 4th.

Within East Asia & Pacific (10 economies with data) it ranks 2nd; the regional median is 170.8%.

Statistics

Latest
204.1%Q1 2026
Previous
200.8%
5-year average
194.0%
Long-run average
125.6%since Q4 1985
All-time high
204.1%Q1 2026
All-time low
61.5%Q1 1986
Observations
162Quarterly

Recent Data

PeriodValueChange
Q1 2026204.1%▲ +3.3 pp
Q4 2025200.8%▼ −0.7 pp
Q3 2025201.5%▼ −0.3 pp
Q2 2025201.8%▼ −0.1 pp
Q1 2025201.9%▲ +4.0 pp
Q4 2024197.9%▼ −0.9 pp
Q3 2024198.8%▲ +0.4 pp
Q2 2024198.4%▲ +0.2 pp
Q1 2024198.2%▲ +5.2 pp
Q4 2023193.0%▼ −1.0 pp
Q3 2023194.0%▲ +0.5 pp
Q2 2023193.5%▲ +0.3 pp
Q1 2023193.2%▲ +5.9 pp
Q4 2022187.3%▼ −0.3 pp
Q3 2022187.6%▲ +0.3 pp
Q2 2022187.3%▲ +1.8 pp
Q1 2022185.5%▲ +3.0 pp
Q4 2021182.5%▼ −3.0 pp
Q3 2021185.5%▼ −2.0 pp
Q2 2021187.5%▼ −2.7 pp
Q1 2021190.2%▼ −2.2 pp
Q4 2020192.4%▼ −2.3 pp
Q3 2020194.7%▲ +0.9 pp
Q2 2020193.8%▲ +4.3 pp
Q1 2020189.5%▲ +9.6 pp
Q4 2019179.9%▼ −0.3 pp
Q3 2019180.2%▲ +0.1 pp
Q2 2019180.1%▼ −0.3 pp
Q1 2019180.4%▲ +3.1 pp
Q4 2018177.3%

Private Debt to GDP — China vs Peers

Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). China highlighted.

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More China indicators

Understanding Private Debt to GDP — a simple guide

What it measures

Credit to the private non-financial sector — households and non-financial companies — as a percentage of GDP (BIS).

How it is calculated

Loans and debt securities owed by households and non-financial companies ÷ GDP × 100 (BIS).

Simple example

A ratio of 90% means private borrowers owe almost one year of national output.

▲ When it is high or rising

High or fast-rising private debt can increase financial stability risks.

▼ When it is low or falling

Low private debt can mean room for credit growth, or limited access to finance.

Why it matters for the economy and markets

Private leverage affects financial stability; rapid credit booms have historically preceded banking stress.

How to read it

The BIS “credit-to-GDP gap” approach looks at how far the ratio is above its long-run trend rather than the level alone.

Data source

Bank for International Settlements (BIS) (series WS_TC/P.A.M.770.A), quarterly data from Q4 1985 to Q1 2026. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.

How to use the chart

Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current private debt to gdp of China?
China private debt to gdp was 204.1% in Q1 2026, compared with 200.8% in the previous period, according to Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
What is the highest and lowest private debt to gdp of China?
Since Q4 1985, the highest reading was 204.1% (Q1 2026) and the lowest was 61.5% (Q1 1986).
What does private debt to gdp measure?
Credit to the private non-financial sector — households and non-financial companies — as a percentage of GDP (BIS).

Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.