Sovereign Credit Ratings

Country
Moody's
S&P
Fitch
DBRS
Scope Ratings
China
A1
Negative
A+
Stable
A
Stable
A
Stable
A
Stable

Latest Credit Changes

Country
Date of Change
Rating Agency
Previous Rating
Previous Outlook
Current Rating
Current Outlook
China
Apr 03, 2025FitchA+NegativeAStable
China
Apr 09, 2024FitchA+StableA+Negative
China
Dec 05, 2023Moody'sA1StableA1Negative
China
Nov 09, 2023DBRSA (high)NegativeAStable
China
May 05, 2023Scope RatingsA+NegativeAStable
China
Nov 10, 2022DBRSA (high)StableA (high)Negative
China
Jun 03, 2022Scope RatingsA+StableA+Negative
China
Jul 09, 2021Scope RatingsA+NegativeA+Stable
China
Nov 13, 2020DBRSA (high)NegativeA (high)Stable
China
Mar 21, 2019DBRSA (high)StableA (high)Negative
China
Sep 21, 2018Scope RatingsA+StableA+Negative
China
Sep 29, 2017Scope RatingsNRA+Stable
China
Sep 21, 2017S&PAA-NegativeA+Stable
China
May 24, 2017Moody'sAa3NegativeA1Stable
China
Mar 31, 2016S&PAA-StableAA-Negative
China
Mar 02, 2016Moody'sAa3StableAa3Negative
China
Sep 29, 2014DBRSNRA (high)Stable
China
Apr 16, 2013Moody'sAa3PositiveAa3Stable
China
Dec 16, 2010S&PA+StableAA-Stable
China
Nov 11, 2010Moody'sA1PositiveAa3Positive

Table Key

GradeMoody'sS&PFitchDBRSScope Ratings
Prime
Aaa
AAA
AAA
AAA
AAA
High Grade
Aa1
AA+
AA+
AA (high)
AA+
Aa2
AA
AA
AA
AA
Aa3
AA-
AA-
AA (low)
AA-
Upper Medium Grade
A1
A+
A+
A (high)
A+
A2
A
A
A
A
A3
A-
A-
A (low)
A-
Lower Medium Grade
Baa1
BBB+
BBB+
BBB (high)
BBB+
Baa2
BBB
BBB
BBB
BBB
Baa3
BBB-
BBB-
BBB (low)
BBB-
Non-investment Grade Speculative
Ba1
BB+
BB+
BB (high)
BB+
Ba2
BB
BB
BB
BB
Ba3
BB-
BB-
BB (low)
BB-
Highly Speculative Grade
B1
B+
B+
B (high)
B+
B2
B
B
B
B
B3
B-
B-
B (low)
B-
Substantial Risk Grade
Caa1
CCC+
CCC+
CCC
Caa2
CCC
CCC
CCC
CCC
Caa3
CCC-
CCC-
CCC
Extremely Speculative Grade
Ca
CC
CC
CCC
CC
C
CCC
C
In Default with Little Prospect for Recovery
CD
RD
RD
In Default
SD
SD
C
D
D
D
D
DD
DD
DDD
DDD
Not Rated
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
FAQ
A sovereign credit rating is an independent assessment of a country's creditworthiness, issued by agencies like S&P, Moody's, Fitch, DBRS, and Scope. These long-term foreign-currency ratings shape borrowing costs and investor confidence, and changes often move currencies, bond yields, and equity markets.
The five largest agencies are S&P Global Ratings, Moody's Investors Service, Fitch Ratings, DBRS Morningstar, and Scope Ratings. They monitor financial, political, and economic conditions to publish updates.
A Positive outlook suggests a possible upgrade, Stable means no change is expected, and Negative signals a potential downgrade. Outlooks indicate the likely direction of a rating in the short to medium term and often shape market expectations.
There is no fixed timetable. Some agencies review ratings on set calendars, while others update after major financial, political, or economic events that could affect credit risk.
You can explore past ratings and outlook revisions on each country's dedicated page within the FXEmpire Credit Ratings Hub.
Investment grade (BBB-/Baa3 or higher) signals lower risk and wider investor access. Speculative grade (BB+/Ba1 or lower), also called high-yield or junk, carries higher risk and volatility but often comes with higher yields.
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