Tokyo, February 11 (QNA) - Japan's total government debt outstanding rose to a new record at the end of 2025, reaching JPY 1,342.172 trillion (about USD 8.6 trillion), an increase of about JPY 24.5 trillion compared with the previous year.

Data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance showed that the value of government bonds was about JPY 1,197.6 trillion, while short-term financing bills recorded about JPY 100.4 trillion, and borrowings amounted to about JPY 44.1 trillion. Government bonds accounted for the largest part of the increase, having risen by more than JPY 24 trillion.

These figures do not include bonds issued to finance the supplementary budget, which exceed JPY 18 trillion, which was approved by the parliament in December 2025.

Public debt in Japan continues to rise due to the accumulation of bond issuances to finance the increase in social security costs and other expenditures, along with the reliance on supplementary budgets in each fiscal year.

The Japanese government affirmed its commitment to following a "responsible and proactive" fiscal policy, noting its efforts to gradually and sustainably reduce the ratio of outstanding debt to gross domestic product. (QNA)