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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by Foreign and International Investors as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (HBFIGDQ188S) from Q1 1970 to Q1 2025 about foreign, debt, federal, GDP, and USA.

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.

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.

The major foreign holders of U.S. Treasury securities are typically countries and entities that invest heavily in U.S. government debt. As of the latest data, here are some of the top foreign holders:

Japan: Historically, Japan has been the largest holder of U.S. Treasury securities. China: China is another major holder, though its holdings have fluctuated due to various economic and political factors. United Kingdom: The UK is a significant investor in U.S. Treasuries, often ranked among the top holders. Ireland: Ireland holds a substantial amount of U.S. Treasury securities. Luxembourg: Luxembourg is also a notable holder of U.S. Treasuries. Switzerland: Swiss investments in U.S. Treasury securities are considerable. Brazil: Brazil is one of the largest holders in Latin America. Belgium: Belgium, often through its financial institutions, holds a significant amount. Taiwan: Taiwan's central bank and other financial institutions invest heavily in U.S. Treasuries. Hong Kong: Hong Kong maintains substantial holdings in U.S. Treasuries. These rankings can change frequently based on economic conditions, currency reserves, and geopolitical factors. For the most up-to-date information, refer to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's "Major Foreign Holders of Treasury Securities" report.

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).

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Asia data was reported at 3,626.207 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,583.591 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Asia data is updated monthly, averaging 3,489.002 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,935.835 USD bn in Jul 2021 and a record low of 3,070.717 USD bn in Dec 2011. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Asia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Department of the Treasury. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Z061: Major Foreign Holders of US Treasury Securities.

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.

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Bahamas data was reported at 14.878 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.885 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Bahamas data is updated monthly, averaging 8.042 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 45.990 USD bn in Dec 2022 and a record low of 4.386 USD bn in Apr 2013. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Bahamas data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Department of the Treasury. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Z061: Major Foreign Holders of US Treasury Securities.

Graph and download economic data for Assets: Securities Held Outright: U.S. Treasury Securities: All: Wednesday Level (TREAST) from 2002-12-18 to 2025-06-25 about maturity, securities, Treasury, and USA.

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

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Belgium data was reported at 169.700 USD bn in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 164.700 USD bn for Sep 2018. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Belgium data is updated monthly, averaging 26.900 USD bn from Jan 2002 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 202 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 381.400 USD bn in Mar 2014 and a record low of 11.300 USD bn in Jun 2002. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Belgium data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Department of Treasury. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Z050: Major Foreign Holders of US Treasury Securities.

In March 2025, the average yield on ten-year government bonds in the United States was 4.27 percent. This was the highest of the selected developed economies considered in this statistic. Except Germany, Luxembourg, and Japan, all countries had a yield higher than three on their government bonds. Bonds and yields – additional information The bond yield indicates the level of return that the investor can expect from a given type of bond. The government of Italy, for instance, offered the investors 3.9 percent yield on ten-year government bonds for borrowing their money in March 2025. In the United States, government needs are also financed by selling various debt instruments such as Treasury bills, notes, bonds and savings bonds to investors. The largest holders of U.S. debt are the Federal Reserve and Government accounts in the United States. The major foreign holders of the United States treasury securities are Japan, Mainland China, and the United Kingdom.

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Kazakhstan data was reported at 6.689 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.230 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Kazakhstan data is updated monthly, averaging 15.666 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 36.140 USD bn in Aug 2014 and a record low of 1.513 USD bn in Aug 2021. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Kazakhstan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Department of the Treasury. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Z061: Major Foreign Holders of US Treasury Securities.

United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Singapore data was reported at 134.500 USD bn in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 130.000 USD bn for Aug 2018. United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Singapore data is updated monthly, averaging 39.800 USD bn from Mar 2000 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 223 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 134.500 USD bn in Sep 2018 and a record low of 17.300 USD bn in Jan 2003. United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Singapore data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Department of Treasury. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Z050: Major Foreign Holders of US Treasury Securities.

As of December 2024, ***************** held ** percent of outstanding Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs). While ******************** held the largest share of JGBs, ***** accounted for **** percent of JGB holders.

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.

United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: United Kingdom data was reported at 276.300 USD bn in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 272.600 USD bn for Aug 2018. United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: United Kingdom data is updated monthly, averaging 131.000 USD bn from Mar 2000 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 223 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 350.700 USD bn in May 2010 and a record low of 40.000 USD bn in Aug 2001. United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: United Kingdom 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. Data from March 2015 no longer include information for Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.

United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Japan data was reported at 1,028.000 USD bn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,029.900 USD bn for Aug 2018. United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Japan data is updated monthly, averaging 708.200 USD bn from Mar 2000 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 223 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,241.500 USD bn in Nov 2014 and a record low of 292.900 USD bn in Sep 2001. United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Japan 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.