Japan’s total ODA in 2020 Note 10 was approximately $16,260.25 million (approximately ¥1,736 billion) according to the Grant Equivalent System (GE system) Note 11 introduced from 2018. As a result, among the members of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Japan ranked fourth Note 12 following the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The breakdown is as follows. Bilateral ODA accounted for approximately 81.1% of overall disbursements, while ODA to international organizations accounted for approximately 18.9%. Bilateral ODA is expected to contribute to the strengthening of Japan’s relations with recipient countries. Meanwhile, ODA to international organizations that have expertise and political neutrality enables Japan to support countries and regions where its direct bilateral assistance is difficult to reach. Japan will actively provide aid that ensures the “visibility of Japan,” while making flexible use of the above types of assistance and coordinating between them.

As regards bilateral ODA by aid scheme, the funding provided as grant aid through the GE system totaled approximately $3,067.36 million (¥327.5 billion), or approximately 18.9% of total ODA. Among these grants, grant through international organizations accounted for approximately $1,792.46 million (¥191.4 billion), or approximately 11.0% of total ODA. Technical cooperation accounted for approximately $2,401.35 million (¥256.4 billion), or approximately 14.8% of total ODA. With regard to government loans, loan disbursements accounted for approximately $11,417.36 million (¥1,218.9 billion), while the grant equivalent of government loans totaled approximately $7,711.63 million (¥823.3 billion), or approximately 47.4% of total ODA.

Japan’s bilateral ODA disbursements (including support for graduated countries) by region, in descending order by percentage of total disbursements (gross disbursements), are as follows. Note 13 (See Chart I-2 and Chart III for details.)

◆ Asia: 60.4% ($102,06.45 million)

◆ Middle East and North Africa: 11.4% ($1,935.81 million)

◆ Sub-Saharan Africa: 7.9% ($1,338.39 million)

◆ Latin America and the Caribbean: 3.8% ($644.28 million)

◆ Oceania: 1.9% ($329.11 million)

◆ Europe: 0.5% ($90 million)

◆ Assistance covering multiple regions: 14.0% ($2,364.76 million)

1. Note 10: DAC Statistics final figures for disbursements in 2021 are to be published at or after the end of 2022.
2. Note 11: The GE system records the amount of a loan aid equivalent to a grant as an actual ODA disbursement. The grant equivalent is calculated by applying the terms of the loan, such as the amount of loan provided, interest rate, and repayment period, to a formula. The more concessional the terms of the loan are, the larger the grant equivalent is. This system measures Japan’s actual loan aid more accurately compared to the net flow system, which was the standard used by the DAC until 2017. (The full amount of the loan is recorded; on the other hand, repaid amounts are counted as negative.)
3. Note 12: DAC Statistics 2020 figures preliminary data is used for the countries other than Japan.
4. Note 13: Gross disbursements basis.

Main Text | Reference Statistics | Stories from the Field | Master Techniques from Japan to the World | ODA Topics