The public owns over 75% of U.S. debt

Each square represents $100 billion, and numbers are rounded to the nearest $100 billion. Data as of March 20, 2023.

Japan and China own the most U.S. debt of foreign countries

These are the top 10 countries that own the most U.S. debt. Debt owned by foreign countries is considered debt owned by the public. Data as of January 2023.

Notes

Debt owned by the public consists of debt held by individuals, corporations, state or local governments, Federal Reserve Banks, foreign governments and other entities outside the U.S. government. Debt owned by the U.S. federal government, also known as intragovernmental debt, consists of debt held by government trust funds, revolving funds and special funds.

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury

Credit: Ashley Ahn/NPR