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 5.33 percent of foreign held U.S. securities. Japan held a further 9.28 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 (FDHBFIN) from Q1 1970 to Q1 2025 about foreign, debt, federal, and USA.

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Denmark data was reported at 12.756 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.686 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Denmark data is updated monthly, averaging 16.129 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.770 USD bn in Apr 2016 and a record low of 11.362 USD bn in Oct 2022. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Denmark 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.

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.

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.

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.

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Africa data was reported at 48.803 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 46.189 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Africa data is updated monthly, averaging 45.690 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.361 USD bn in Jun 2018 and a record low of 22.677 USD bn in Jul 2016. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Africa 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.

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Other data was reported at 77.837 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 78.764 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Other data is updated monthly, averaging 44.687 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 86.054 USD bn in Jul 2024 and a record low of 23.169 USD bn in Jan 2012. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Other 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: Costa Rica data was reported at 3.417 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.583 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Costa Rica data is updated monthly, averaging 1.795 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.556 USD bn in Jan 2024 and a record low of 0.933 USD bn in Dec 2013. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Costa Rica 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.

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Portugal data was reported at 1.897 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.936 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Portugal data is updated monthly, averaging 4.604 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.458 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 1.897 USD bn in Jan 2025. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Portugal 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.

As of December 2024, the Bank of Japan held 52 percent of outstanding Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs). While Japan's central bank held the largest share of JGBs, banks accounted for 12.7 percent of JGB holders.

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: Int'l & Regional Organizations data was reported at 99.499 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 123.048 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Int'l & Regional Organizations data is updated monthly, averaging 66.180 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 123.048 USD bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 47.627 USD bn in Sep 2018. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Int'l & Regional Organizations 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 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.

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.

Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Regional Organizations data was reported at 23.819 USD bn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.700 USD bn for Dec 2024. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Regional Organizations data is updated monthly, averaging 15.360 USD bn from Dec 2011 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 158 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.700 USD bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 6.762 USD bn in Feb 2012. Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Regional Organizations 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 Mortgage Debt Outstanding by Type of Holder: Major Financial Institutions (DISCONTINUED) (MDOTHMFI) from Q4 1949 to Q3 2019 about major, financial, debt, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Mortgage Debt Outstanding by Type of Holder: Major Financial Institutions: Savings Institutions (DISCONTINUED) (MDOTHMFISI) from Q4 1949 to Q4 2013 about major, mortgage, financial, debt, and USA.