Table of Contents
Who does the US owe the most debt to?
Key Takeaways
- Roughly three-quarters of the government’s debt is public debt, which includes Treasury securities.
- Japan is the largest foreign holder of public U.S. government debt, owning $1.266 trillion in debt as of April 2020.
Does China owe America money?
Breaking Down Ownership of US Debt China owns about $1.1 trillion in U.S. debt, or a bit more than the amount Japan owns. Whether you’re an American retiree or a Chinese bank, American debt is considered a sound investment.
What if China sells US debt?
Since the U.S. dollar has a variable exchange rate, however, any sale by any nation holding huge U.S. debt or dollar reserves will trigger the adjustment of trade balance at the international level. The offloaded U.S. reserves by China will either end up with another nation or will return back to the U.S.
What percentage of the US is in debt?
In 2020, the national debt of the United States was at around 133.92 percent of the gross domestic product….
| Characteristic | National debt in relation to GDP |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 133.92\% |
| 2019 | 108.46\% |
| 2018 | 107.06\% |
| 2017 | 105.98\% |
What countries does the United States owe money to?
The United States owes money to many countries, including Japan, mainland China, the U.K., Ireland, Luxembourg, Brazil, Switzerland and Belgium, among others.
Which countries own the most US government debt?
Japan is the largest foreign holder of public U.S. government debt, owning $1.266 trillion in debt as of April 2020. 2 China ranks second in total U.S. debt owned by foreign countries, with the U.K., Ireland and Luxembourg rounding out the top five. The debt is held in two categories: intragovernmental debt and public debt.
How much of the US debt does China hold?
China takes the second spot among foreign holders of U.S. debt with $1.07 trillion in Treasury holdings in April 2020, just behind Japan. 2 China has trimmed its holdings and this is the lowest amount held in the last two years. It currently holds 15.5\% of the foreign debt.
How much debt does the United Kingdom have in the US?
The United Kingdom has increased its holdings in U.S. debt to an eight-year high in April 2020 to $368 billion. 2 It has increased in rank as Brexit continues to weaken its economy. This is 6\% of the total foreign debt.