In 2009 Japan was the sixth most generous aid (official development assistance, ODA) donor and the twelfth most generous humanitarian aid donor, reporting US$8.5 billion and US$269.5 million respectively. Between 1998 and 2000 Japan was the largest aid donor and in 2004 it was the fourth largest humanitarian aid donor after the United States, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom, contributing US$832.6 million. Whilst Japan is a major aid donor, its humanitarian aid as a proportion of its overall aid is relatively low. Since 1995 this proportion has, on average, been 3% with peaks in 2004 (10%) and 2005 (9%).
