Japan Lending Rate
Lending interest rate FR.INR.LEND
Japan's lending rate was 0.99% in 2017, ranked 1st globally. This represents a 4.9% decrease from 2016. Data from World Bank, covering 1993–2017.
Overview
Japan's lending rate stood at 0.99% in 2017, a decline of +0.05pp from 2016. Japan ranked 1st globally.
Japan’s policy lending rate has fallen dramatically over the 25‑year span from 1993 to 2017, sliding from an all‑time peak of 4.86 % in 1993 to a trough of 0.99 % in 2017, the lowest level among all economies in the World Bank dataset. The 0.99 % rate recorded in 2017 places Japan at the top of the global ranking, ahead of peers such as Hungary (1.48 %), Switzerland (2.63 %) and Canada (2.70 %). This steep decline reflects the Bank of Japan’s prolonged accommodative stance, aimed at counteracting deflationary pressures and stimulating demand after the asset‑price bubble burst in the early 1990s. The persistently low rate has supported ultra‑low‑cost financing for households and firms, but also limited monetary policy space for future shocks. Continued demographic stagnation and modest inflation may keep the rate near current lows, unless a decisive shift in fiscal or structural reforms creates upward pressure on borrowing costs.
Data & projection
| Year | Lending Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.99% | −0.05pp | #1 |
| 2016 | 1.04% | −0.10pp | #1 |
| 2015 | 1.14% | −0.08pp | #1 |
| 2014 | 1.22% | −0.08pp | #2 |
| 2013 | 1.30% | −0.10pp | #2 |
| 2012 | 1.41% | −0.09pp | #2 |
| 2011 | 1.50% | −0.10pp | #2 |
| 2010 | 1.60% | −0.13pp | #2 |
| 2009 | 1.72% | −0.19pp | #2 |
| 2008 | 1.91% | +0.03pp | #1 |
| 2007 | 1.88% | +0.22pp | #1 |
| 2006 | 1.66% | −0.01pp | #1 |
| 2005 | 1.68% | −0.09pp | #1 |
| 2004 | 1.77% | −0.06pp | #1 |
| 2003 | 1.82% | −0.04pp | #1 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Japan matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2004. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw lending rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Japan's lending rate was 0.99% in 2017. Ranked 1st globally. This represents a 4.9% decrease from the previous year.
Japan's lending rate peaked at 4.86% in 1993.
The lowest lending rate in Japan was 0.99% in 2017.
Japan ranks 1st globally in lending rate as of 2017.
The World Bank indicator code is FR.INR.LEND. Data sourced from World Bank.
The lending rate of Japan in 2017 was 0.99%. This ranks 1st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_japan_lending-rate,
title = {Japan Lending Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/japan/lending-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}