Claim: "Japan is the second-highest donor of all international donor organizations."
Source: Daniel Sando, Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism.
Verdict: Misleading. Based on our research, the statement appears to rely on outdated information that does not reflect Japan's recent decline in ODA contributions relative to other major donor nations.
Full Text:During a Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) press briefing on August 21, 2025, Deputy Minister Daniel Sando claimed that Japan currently ranks as the second-highest donor among international donor organizations. The statement was made at the 6:57 mark of a 40-minute, 30-second video presentation.
Verification: The Stage Media Liberia's investigation into international aid statistics reveals a more complex picture of Japan's current donor status.
Japan has indeed been a major player in international development assistance. According to the World Bank Group, Japan was one of the world's largest aid donors during the 1990s and early 2000s, even reaching the top position at one point. The country held the second position as recently as 2006, having provided over $200 billion in official development assistance (ODA) over three decades.
As an important member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee, Japan has consistently coordinated with global donor policies through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), prioritizing aid to Asia and other global development programs.
However, recent data paints a different picture. The OECD's 2024 report shows Japan has slipped in the rankings:
- United States—$63.3 billion
- Germany—$32.4 billion
- United Kingdom—$18.0 billion
- Japan—$16.8 billion
- France—$15.4 billion
This ranking was confirmed by Japan's own Foreign Ministry. On April 18, 2025, Japan News reported that IWAYA Takeshi of the Japan Foreign Ministry announced Japan's ODA decreased to approximately $16.77 billion in 2024—a significant 14.4% drop from the previous year.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed in April 2025 that among the 32 countries in the OECD's Development Assistance Committee, Japan now ranks fourth, having dropped from third place in 2023.
Conclusion: While Japan maintained its position as the world's second-largest aid donor for several years in the past, current data clearly shows the country now ranks fourth among international donors. Therefore, Deputy Minister Sando's claim that Japan is currently the "second-highest donor" is misleading.
