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 as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (HBFIGDQ188S) from Q1 1970 to Q4 2024 about foreign, debt, federal, GDP, 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).

Graph and download economic data for Assets: Securities Held Outright: U.S. Treasury Securities: All: Wednesday Level (TREAST) from 2002-12-18 to 2025-03-19 about maturity, securities, Treasury, and USA.

Among the 12 Federal Reserve Banks of the Federal Reserve System (Fed) in the United States, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York held by far the highest value of U.S. Treasury securities in 2023. With roughly 2.8 trillion U.S. dollars worth of securities, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York held over 50 percent of all U.S. Treasury securities of the Fed. It was followed by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by Private Investors (FDHBPIN) from Q1 1970 to Q4 2024 about debt, federal, private, and USA.

The value of U.S. Treasury securities held by residents of Russia amounted to 46 million U.S. dollars in April 2024, marking a stark contrast to the 10.51 billion U.S. dollars held in January 2020. The lowest over the period under consideration was recorded in November 2023 at 28 million U.S. dollars. Furthermore, in March 2020, the figure plummeted to 3.85 billion U.S. dollars, down from 12.6 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 27 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 eight trillion U.S. dollars as of January 2024. Japan and China held the largest portions, with China possessing 797.7 billion U.S. dollars in U.S. securities. Additionally, other significant foreign holders included oil exporting countries and Caribbean banking centers.

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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by Federal Reserve Banks (FDHBFRBN) from Q1 1970 to Q4 2024 about debt, federal, banks, depository institutions, and USA.

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.

Of the 27 trillion U.S. dollars of marketable U.S. treasury securities that were outstanding as of May 2024, just below half were for treasury notes. Treasury notes have maturities of two, three, five, seven or 10 years, and have a coupon payment every six months. This contrasts to treasury bills, with maturity of one year or less, and treasury bonds, which have a maturity of 30 years.

Graph and download economic data for Assets: Securities Held Outright: U.S. Treasury Securities: Wednesday Level (WSHOTSL) from 2002-12-18 to 2025-03-19 about outright, supplies, balance, reserves, securities, Treasury, and USA.

By 2034, the gross federal debt of the United States is projected to be about 54.39 trillion U.S. dollars. This would be an increase of around 21 trillion U.S. dollars from 2023, when the federal debt was around 33 trillion U.S. dollars.

The federal debt of the U.S.

The federal debt, also called the national debt or public debt, is the amount of debt held by the United States government. This debt may be to other countries, or to different departments within the government itself. The public debt of the United States has increased significantly over the past 30 years, as it was around 3.2 trillion U.S. dollars in 1990 and surpassed 30 trillion dollars for the first time in 2022. When broken down per capita, the national debt amounted to about 80,885 U.S. dollars of debt per person in the United States in 2021.

The problem of the federal debt

Over the past decade, the federal debt limit in the United States has increased significantly. The U.S. debt ceiling can only be changed by an act of Congress which is then signed by the president. The raising of the ceiling has become a recurring political issue in recent years, especially during times when the Presidency and chambers of Congress are controlled by different parties.

The debt ceiling is a tool that allows the Treasury to issue bonds without congressional approval, allowing for efficiency in the way that the government pays for programs and services. It is thought to be further valuable in that it keeps federal finances in check. However, when the two parties are unable to come to an agreement on raising the debt ceiling, the government comes to a shutdown because they can no longer fund themselves. The Republican Party in particular often positions itself against raising the federal debt ceiling, characterizing themselves as the party of fiscal conservativism. However, analyses have shown that both parties have contributed to the country's debt in almost equal measures.

US 10 Year Note Bond Yield was 4.34 percent on Wednesday March 26, according to over-the-counter interbank yield quotes for this government bond maturity. US 10 Year Treasury Bond Note Yield - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.

Net Purchases of US Treasury Bonds and Notes decreased by 13300 million dollars in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Net Purchases of US Treasury Bonds and Notes - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The United States recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 122.30 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2023. This dataset provides - United States Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Russia data was reported at 48.700 USD bn in Apr 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 96.100 USD bn for Mar 2018. United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Russia data is updated monthly, averaging 108.900 USD bn from Aug 2006 (Median) to Apr 2018, with 141 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 176.300 USD bn in Oct 2010 and a record low of 6.400 USD bn in Sep 2006. United States Treasury Securities: Foreign Holder: Russia 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.

Graph and download economic data for Assets: Securities Held Outright: U.S. Treasury Securities: Maturing in over 10 Years: Wednesday Level (TREAS10Y) from 2002-12-18 to 2025-03-19 about 10 years +, maturity, securities, Treasury, and USA.