国債利払い費、２８年度１６兆円　２５年度比１．５倍、財政重荷―財務省試算

　財務省が２０２５年度予算案を基に将来の財政を推計した試算で、国の借金である国債の利払い費が２８年度に１６．１兆円に達することが２２日、分かった。「金利のある世界」の復活で長期金利が上昇するためで、２５年度比１．５倍となる。利払い費の負担増が政策選択の幅を狭めるのは必至で、厳しい財政運営が続きそうだ。（2025/01/22-17:42）

Japanese government expenditures to pay interest on bonds are projected to reach 16.1 trillion yen in fiscal 2028, 1.5 times higher than in fiscal 2025, according to Finance Ministry estimates based on the government's fiscal 2025 budget plan.
   The increase in interest payments, which reflects higher long-term interest rates following policy rate hikes by the Bank of Japan, is all but certain to narrow the range of policy choices available to the government.
   The estimates showed that the government's general-account expenditures will reach a record high of 127.8 trillion yen in the year beginning in April 2028, significantly growing from the 115.5 trillion yen earmarked in the fiscal 2025 budget despite its goal of reducing them to prepandemic levels.
   Debt-servicing costs, which include principal repayments as well as interest payments, are seen totaling 35.3 trillion yen in fiscal 2028, accounting for nearly 30 percent of overall spending.
   Tax revenues are projected to rise to 88 trillion yen in fiscal 2028, up from 78.4 trillion yen estimated for fiscal 2025, as the ministry expects a faster rate of tax revenue increase from economic growth.