Infographic: Japan Is the Largest Foreign Holder of U.S. Treasuries (2024)

FAQs

Why is Japan the largest holder of US treasuries? ›

U.S. Treasury Bonds

The Bank of Japan's decade-long fight against deflation and economic stagnation has resulted in near-zero returns at home, forcing Japanese investors to move their money abroad, often to the United States.

Japan remains the largest non-U.S. holder of U.S. government debt. China's holdings of Treasuries rose to $816.3 billion, up $34.3 billion from $782 billion held in November.

Of the total held by foreign countries, Japan and Mainland China held the greatest portions, with China holding 797.7 billion U.S. dollars in U.S. securities. Other foreign holders included oil exporting countries and Caribbean banking centers.

U.S. Treasury Securities Holders by Type

The largest holder of U.S. debt is the U.S government. Which agencies own the most Treasury notes, bills, and bonds? Social Security, by a long shot.

Nearly half of all US foreign-owned debt comes from five countries. All values are adjusted to 2023 dollars. As of January 2023, the five countries owning the most US debt are Japan ($1.1 trillion), China ($859 billion), the United Kingdom ($668 billion), Belgium ($331 billion), and Luxembourg ($318 billion).

If the central bank signals that it will normalize policy and might hike rates, Japanese investors like banks and life insurers could start dumping Treasuries to buy more-attractive domestic bonds. Along with any winding down of the carry trade, this would send Treasury yields higher and weigh on the dollar.

Holdings of Treasuries grew the most in Belgium, by $27 billion, to hit $320 billion. Japan, the largest non-U.S. holder of Treasuries, increased its U.S. government debt to $1.167 trillion, the largest since August 2022 when the country's holdings were at $1.196 trillion.

If China (or any other nation that has a trade surplus with the U.S.) stops buying U.S. Treasuries or even starts dumping its U.S. forex reserves, its trade surplus would become a trade deficit—something which no export-oriented economy would want, as they would be worse off as a result.

Around 70% of Japanese government bonds are purchased by the Bank of Japan, and much of the remainder is purchased by Japanese banks and trust funds, which largely insulates the prices and yields of such bonds from the effects of the global bond market and reduces their sensitivity to credit rating changes.

In total, other territories hold about $7.4 trillion in U.S. debt. Japan owns the most at $1.1 trillion, followed by China, with $859 billion, and the United Kingdom at $668 billion.

Why does the US owe so much money to Japan? ›

Why does the US owe so much debt to Japan? Because this has been an industrial policy of Japan and America, to give Japan the access to US market, and Japan to actively encourage lower yen, so to export to US at cheaper price.

China is one of the United States's largest creditors, owning about $859.4 billion in U.S. debt.1 However, it does not own the most U.S. debt of any foreign country. Nations borrowing from each other may be as old as the concept of money.

Selling Treasurys is a fast way to whip up U.S. dollars, and China will sometimes use extra dollars to go out on the global market and buy up their own currency. That artificially pumps up its value. It's like planting someone at an auction to drive up your prices. That's one idea.

The international buying appetite has been falling over the past 10 years (dropping from 40% to the current 30%). The major international owners of US debt include Japan ($1.1T), China, UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Cayman Islands and smaller amounts from the rest of the world.

Holdings of Treasuries grew the most in Belgium, by $27 billion, to hit $320 billion. Japan, the largest non-U.S. holder of Treasuries, increased its U.S. government debt to $1.167 trillion, the largest since August 2022 when the country's holdings were at $1.196 trillion.

Most common reasons for paying with cash in Japan 2024

Around 44.4 percent of respondents stated they used cash because it is accepted at most places. The second-largest share of respondents reported using cash because the payments are completed on the spot.

Key Takeaways. China invests heavily in U.S. Treasury bonds to keep its export prices lower. China focuses on export-led growth to help generate jobs. To keep its export prices low, China must keep the renminbi low compared to the U.S. dollar.