国の借金、過去最大１２８６兆円　２３年末、財政運営厳しく

　財務省は９日、国債や借入金、政府短期証券の残高を合計したいわゆる「国の借金」が２０２３年末時点で、過去最大の１２８６兆４５２０億円になったと発表した。高齢化に伴う社会保障費の増大などを税収で賄えず、借金頼みの厳しい財政運営が続いている。
　借金の合計額は２３年９月末比で１０兆８４０４億円増加した。内訳を見ると、政府系金融機関などへの貸し付け原資となる財投債や政府短期証券は減少したものの、普通国債が１０４３兆７７８６億円と同１６兆３６５７億円増えた。（2024/02/09-15:50）

The outstanding balance of Japanese government debt reached a record high of 1,286,452 billion yen as of the end of 2023, the Finance Ministry said Friday.
   The combined balance of Japanese government bonds, borrowings and financing bills grew by 10,840.4 billion yen from the end of September last year.
   The government continues to rely on debt for its fiscal management, as it is unable to cover rising social security costs, caused by societal aging, with tax revenues.
   Despite a decrease in the balance of financing bills and Fiscal Investment and Loan Program bonds, used to finance loans to government-affiliated financial institutions, the balance of ordinary JGBs grew by 16,365.7 billion yen to 1,043,778.6 billion yen.
   The government's draft budget bill for fiscal 2024 calls for issuing 35,449 billion yen in new bonds, equivalent to over 30 pct of revenue.