The latest Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map has found that Australia has supplanted China as the dominant lender and infrastructure investor across the Pacific.
The federal government provided around 37 per cent of all development spending in the Pacific in 2024.
The Asian Development Bank and the World Bank are still major lenders in the region, contributing 11 per cent and 10 per cent of total overall development spending respectively.
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Australia has supplanted China as the dominant lender and infrastructure investor across the Pacific as the government ploughs billions of dollars into the region through both foreign aid and loans.
The latest version of the Lowy Institute's Pacific Aid Map also shows that Australia has also maintained its position as by far the largest aid donor in the region, with the federal government providing around 37 per cent of all development spending across the Pacific in 2024.
That puts Australia well ahead of the other countries, with New Zealand sitting at 11 per cent, the US at 8 per cent, China at 6 per cent and Japan at 3 per cent.
The map's lead author, Riley Duke, said the latest data showed a "striking" shift, with China's lending to the region continuing to fall away.
"Historically this has been an area very much dominated by China. Beijing has built a lot of relationships and influence through these big loan finance infrastructure deals," he said.
"So, it's significant that Australia seems to have crowded out China in this space."
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