As of January 2024, Japan held United States treasury securities totaling about 1.15 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 eight trillion U.S. dollars in U.S. treasury securities as of January 2024. 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.
The U.S. public debt
In 2022, the United States had a total public national debt of 30.9 trillion U.S. dollars, an amount that has been rising steadily, particularly since 2008. In 2022, the total interest expense on debt held by the public of the United States reached 497 billion U.S. dollars, while 227 billion U.S. dollars in interest expense were intragovernmental debt holdings. Total outlays of the U.S. government were 6.37 trillion U.S. dollars in 2022. By 2028, spending is projected to reach eight trillion U.S. dollars.
FAQs
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).
Who are most of the foreign investors who hold U.S. Treasury bonds? ›
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).
Who are the foreign holders of Treasury securities? ›
The three largest holders of Treasuries -- Japan, China and the UK -- led the purchase U.S. government debt. Japanese investors raised their stash of Treasuries to $1.138 trillion in December, from $1.127 trillion in November, data showed.
Can foreigners invest in U.S. Treasury? ›
It is also possible to buy U.S. Treasury bills through a government securities broker or dealer, who can help facilitate the purchase on your behalf. You may need to provide documentation such as a passport or other identification to open an account and buy U.S. Treasury bills.
Are countries buying U.S. Treasury bonds? ›
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.
Who is the biggest foreign investor in us? ›
According to data from the U.S. International Trade Administration, the main investing countries in the U.S. are Japan (USD 721 billion), Canada (USD 607.2 billion), Germany (USD 498.6 billion), and the United Kingdom (USD 439 billion), with Europe as a whole accounting for USD 2.8 trillion.
Who are the largest holders of U.S. treasury securities? ›
U.S. Treasury Bonds
In fact, Japan is by far the largest foreign owner of U.S. treasury securities, with Japanese banks, pension funds, insurance companies etc. holding a total of $1.138 trillion at the end of 2023.
What happens if China dumps US bonds? ›
The sale of a lot of bonds theoretically could have driven down their price and hurt other existing bondholders, but China would suffer, too, in such a situation, having to sell its holdings at ever lower prices.
How much does China owe us? ›
The United States pays interest on approximately $850 billion in debt held by the People's Republic of China. China, however, is currently in default on its sovereign debt held by American bondholders.
Why is China selling U.S. Treasuries? ›
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.
Only U.S. citizens, legal residents or civilian employees of the U.S. government (regardless of citizenship or residency) may buy Series I bonds. You can buy Series I bonds electronically through Treasury Direct.
Who is buying all the Treasury auctions? ›
Households and, perhaps surprisingly, foreign investors have been buyers recently, and with the amount of Treasury supply coming to market, both will need to keep buying.
Can H1B buy treasury bills? ›
If an H-1B or other work visa holder meets the substantial presence test, then they are considered US residents for tax purposes. Based on the above, yes, an H-1B visa holder can purchase I bonds.
Why do foreigners buy US Treasuries? ›
Investors have been able to transfer risk effectively across both on- and off-the-run securities. In addition to trading liquidity, Treasuries offer safety since they are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, with recourse to the independent U.S. legal system.
Are foreign countries selling US Treasuries? ›
Overseas investors sold a net $2.4 billion in long-term Treasurys in September, bringing their holdings to $6.5 trillion, according to data from the U.S. Treasury released Thursday.
How much land does China own in the US? ›
China owns 384,000 acres of American agricultural land. That's a 30% increase just since 2019. And on top of that, they own land near an air force base in North Dakota.
Which country buys the most U.S. Treasury bonds? ›
Top Foreign Holders of U.S. Debt
| Rank | Country | Share of Total |
|---|
| 1 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 14.7% |
| 2 | 🇨🇳 China | 11.9% |
| 3 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8.9% |
| 4 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 4.8% |
35 more rowsMar 24, 2023
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. The U.S. Treasury publishes this information in its monthly Treasury statement.
Why do foreigners buy U.S. Treasuries? ›
Investors have been able to transfer risk effectively across both on- and off-the-run securities. In addition to trading liquidity, Treasuries offer safety since they are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, with recourse to the independent U.S. legal system.
Who are the buyers of U.S. Treasuries? ›
And, thus, the Treasury needs buyers. At this point, the Fed is no longer a buyer of Treasuries. Pension funds, mutual funds, retail portfolios, institutional portfolios, and an assortment of exchange traded funds have been important domestic buyers.
