Japan is one of the largest funders of aid in the world, and the largest donor in Asia.
Last year, according to preliminary data provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, it provided more official development assistance, or ODA, than any country, excluding the United States and Germany — a total of $17.5 billion on a grant-equivalent basis, or 0.39% of its gross national income.
Japanese ODA as a percentage of GNI has been steadily increasing, from 0.29% in 2019, to 0.31% in 2020, to 0.34% in 2021, partly as a result of increased spending on the COVID-19 response.