As of December 2024, Japan held United States treasury securities totaling about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars. Foreign holders of United States treasury debt According to the Federal Reserve and U.S. Department of the Treasury, foreign countries held a total of 8.5 trillion U.S. dollars in U.S. treasury securities as of December 2024. Of the total held by foreign countries, Japan and Mainland China held the greatest portions, with China holding 759 billion U.S. dollars in U.S. securities. The U.S. public debt In 2023, the United States had a total public national debt of 33.2 trillion U.S. dollars, an amount that has been rising steadily, particularly since 2008. In 2023, the total interest expense on debt held by the public of the United States reached 678 billion U.S. dollars, while 197 billion U.S. dollars in interest expense were intra governmental debt holdings. Total outlays of the U.S. government were 6.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. By 2029, spending is projected to reach 8.3 trillion U.S. dollars.

At the end of 2023, depository institutions owned around 4.86 percent of the total U.S. debt. Depository institutions includes U.S. chartered depository institutions, foreign banking offices in the United States, banks in U.S. affiliated areas, credit unions, and bank holding companies.

The total debt accrued by the U.S. annually can be accessed here.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by Foreign and International Investors (FDHBFIN) from Q1 1970 to Q1 2025 about foreign, debt, federal, and USA.

Total outstanding debt of the U.S. government reported daily. Includes a breakout of intragovernmental holdings (federal debt held by U.S. government) and debt held by the public (federal debt held by entities outside the U.S. government).

Summarizes the U.S. government's total outstanding debt at the end of each fiscal year from 1789 to the current year.

In 2023, China held **** percent of foreign held U.S. securities. Japan held a further **** percent of foreign held securities. The national debt of the United Stated can be found here.

In September 2023, the national debt of the United States had risen up to 33.17 trillion U.S. dollars. The national debt per capita had risen to 85,552 U.S. dollars in 2021. As represented by the statistic above, the public debt of the United States has been continuously rising.

U.S. public debt Public debt, also known as national and governmental debt, is the debt owed by a nations’ central government. In the case of the U.S., national debt is owed by the federal government to Treasury security holders. Generally speaking, government debt increases with government spending, and can be decreased through taxes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government increased spending significantly to finance virus infrastructure, aid, and various forms of economic relief.

International public debt

Venezuela leads the global ranking of the 20 countries with the highest public debt in 2021. In relation to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Venezuela's public debt amounted to around 306.95 percent of GDP. Eritrea was ranked fifth, with an estimated debt of 170 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

The national debt of the United Kingdom is forecasted to grow from 87 percent in 2022 to 70 percent in 2027, in relation to the Gross Domestic Product. These figures include England, Wales, Scotland as well as Northern Ireland.

Greece had the highest national debt among EU countries as of the 4th quarter of 2020 in relation to the Gross Domestic Product. Germany ranked 13th in the EU, with its national debt amounting to 69 percent of GDP in the same time period.

Tuvalu was one of the 20 countries with the lowest national debt in 2021 in relation to the GDP, while Macao had an estimated level of national debt of zero percent, the lowest of any country. The data refer to the debts of the entire state, including the central government, the provinces, municipalities, local authorities and social insurance.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt: Total Public Debt (GFDEBTN) from Q1 1966 to Q1 2025 about public, debt, federal, government, and USA.

The United States recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 124.30 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - United States Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (FYGFGDQ188S) from Q1 1970 to Q1 2025 about public, debt, federal, GDP, and USA.

Government Debt in the United States decreased to 36211469 USD Million in June from 36215818 USD Million in May of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Government Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The value of U.S. Treasury securities held by residents of Russia amounted to ** million U.S. dollars in March 2025, marking a stark contrast to ***** billion U.S. dollars held in January 2020. The lowest over the period under consideration was recorded in November 2023 at ** million U.S. dollars. Furthermore, in March 2020, the figure plummeted to **** billion U.S. dollars, down from **** billion U.S. dollars one month prior. Russia’s holdings of U.S. treasury securities have decreased since 2014 following the Western sanctions over the annexation of Crimea and have further dropped in 2022 after more restrictions were imposed over the war in Ukraine. What are U.S. treasury holdings? U.S. treasury holdings are government debt instruments that contribute to the funding of various government projects in the country. The U.S. Department of Treasury allows individuals and organizations to invest in treasury notes, bills, and bonds, which are the main three types of securities. Just under half of the outstanding ** trillion U.S. dollars as of May 2024 were in the form of treasury notes. The notes have varying maturities and coupon payment frequencies, which are different from the maturity periods of treasury bills and bonds. Main foreign holders of U.S. treasury securities Foreign holdings of U.S. treasury debt amounted to ***** trillion U.S. dollars as of January 2024. Japan and China held the largest portions, with China possessing ***** billion U.S. dollars in U.S. securities. Additionally, other significant foreign holders included oil exporting countries and Caribbean banking centers.

Key information about United States Government Debt: % of GDP

• United States Government debt accounted for 124.0 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 123.1 % in the previous quarter.
• US government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1969 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 130.4 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 31.8 % in Sep 1974.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service provides Government Debt in USD. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides Nominal GDP in USD. Government Debt covers Central Government only.


Related information about United States Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, US National Government Debt reached 36,220.2 USD bn in Jan 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 6,632.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Government data was reported at 161.832 BRL bn in Apr 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 163.865 BRL bn for Mar 2019. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Government data is updated monthly, averaging 140.686 BRL bn from Jan 2007 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 148 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 172.430 BRL bn in Apr 2011 and a record low of 0.000 BRL bn in Nov 2010. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Government data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Treasury Secretariat. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table BR.FC008: Federal Public Debt: Held by the Public: Domestic: Outstanding: by Holders of Public Securities. This data is part of the Monthly Report of Federal Public Debt from National Treasury. Displays information about emissions, redemptions, stock, maturity profile and average cost to the Federal Public Debt, including both the internal and external debts, responsibility of the National Treasury market.

In 2023, the gross federal debt in the United States amounted to around ****** U.S. dollars per capita. This is a moderate increase from the previous year, when the per capita national debt amounted to about ****** U.S. dollars. The total debt accrued by the U.S. annually can be accessed here. Federal debt of the United States The level of national debt held by the United States government has risen sharply in the years following the Great Recession. Federal debt is the amount of debt the federal government owes to creditors who hold assets in the form of debt securities. As with individuals and consumers, there is a common consensus among economists that holding debt is not necessarily problematic for government so long as the public debt is held at a sustainable level. Although there is no agreed upon ratio of debt to gross domestic product, the increasing debt held by the Federal Reserve has become a major part of the political discourse in the United States. Politics and the national debt In recent years, debate over the debt ceiling has been of concern to domestic politicians, the owners of federal debt, and global economy as a whole. The debt ceiling is a legislated maximum amount that national debt can reach intended to impose a degree of fiscal prudence on incumbent governments. However, as national debt has grown the debt ceiling has been reached, thus forcing legislative action by Congress. In both 2011 and 2013, new legislation was passed by Congress allowing the debt ceiling to be raised. The Budget Control Act of 2011 and the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 successively allowed the government to avoid defaulting on national debt and therefore avert a potential economic crisis.

In October 2024, the public debt of the United States was around 35.46 trillion U.S. dollars, a slight decrease from the previous month. The U.S. public debt ceiling has become one of the most prominent political issues in the States in recent years, with debate over how to handle it causing political turmoil between Democrats and Republicans. The public debt The public debt of the United States has risen quickly since 2000, and in 2022 was more than five times higher than in 2000. The public debt is the total outstanding debt that is owed by the federal government. This figure comprises debt owed to the public (for example, through bonds) and intergovernmental debt (debt owed to various governmental departments), such as Social Security. Debt in Politics The debt issue has become a highly contentious topic within the U.S. government. Measures such as stimulus packages, social programs and tax cuts add to the public debt. Additionally, spending tends to peak during large global events, such as the Great Depression, the 2008 financial crisis, or the COVID-19 pandemic - all of which had a detrimental impact on the U.S. economy. Although both major political parties in the U.S. tend to blame one another for increases in the country's debt, a recent analysis found that both parties have contributed almost equally to national expenditure. Debate on raising the debt ceiling, or the amount of debt the federal government is allowed to have at any one time, was a leading topic in the government shutdown in October 2013. Despite plans from both Democrats and Republicans on how to lower the national debt, it is only expected to increase over the next decade.

Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Non-residents data was reported at 465.431 BRL bn in Apr 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 460.880 BRL bn for Mar 2019. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Non-residents data is updated monthly, averaging 265.727 BRL bn from Jan 2007 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 148 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 498.867 BRL bn in Nov 2015 and a record low of 16.881 BRL bn in Jan 2007. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Non-residents data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Treasury Secretariat. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table BR.FC008: Federal Public Debt: Held by the Public: Domestic: Outstanding: by Holders of Public Securities. This data is part of the Monthly Report of Federal Public Debt from National Treasury. Displays information about emissions, redemptions, stock, maturity profile and average cost to the Federal Public Debt, including both the internal and external debts, responsibility of the National Treasury market.

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: ow Official: T Bills data was reported at 316.700 USD bn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 329.300 USD bn for Aug 2018. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: ow Official: T Bills data is updated monthly, averaging 298.400 USD bn from Mar 2000 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 223 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 607.300 USD bn in Aug 2009 and a record low of 137.900 USD bn in May 2001. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: ow Official: T Bills data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Department of Treasury. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.Z050: Major Foreign Holders of US Treasury Securities.

Pakistan Federal Govt Debt: By Holder: Foreign Govt and Banks data was reported at 2,936,049.000 PKR mn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,537,926.000 PKR mn for 2016. Pakistan Federal Govt Debt: By Holder: Foreign Govt and Banks data is updated yearly, averaging 161,125.000 PKR mn from Jun 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,936,049.000 PKR mn in 2017 and a record low of 175.000 PKR mn in 1961. Pakistan Federal Govt Debt: By Holder: Foreign Govt and Banks data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State Bank of Pakistan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.F017: Federal Government Debt: By Holder.

Pakistan Federal Govt Debt: By Holder: Other Financial Institutions data was reported at 713,610.000 PKR mn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 659,295.000 PKR mn for 2016. Pakistan Federal Govt Debt: By Holder: Other Financial Institutions data is updated yearly, averaging 10,527.000 PKR mn from Jun 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 713,610.000 PKR mn in 2017 and a record low of 196.000 PKR mn in 1961. Pakistan Federal Govt Debt: By Holder: Other Financial Institutions data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State Bank of Pakistan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.F017: Federal Government Debt: By Holder.