Who owns America’s debt?

China is making headlines as it sells off large portions of the United States’ treasury bonds. But the largest owner of US debt isn’t the only one: Russia, Brazil and Taiwan are also selling off treasuries.

Who else owns America’s debt? The latest changes won’t be accounted for until the US Department of the Treasury releases its next data report, but the figures from July 2015 show China and Japan continuing to be the largest holders of treasuries. Caribbean banking centres include the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Panama and the municipalities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Oil exporters include Ecuador, Venezuela, Indonesia, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Gabon, Libya and Nigeria. The United Kingdom includes the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

The data seen here is in billions of dollars.
Source: Statista

Have you read?
20 countries with the greatest public debt
Why do banks want to hold government debt?
Why have US treasury bonds fallen?

Author: Donald Armbrecht is a freelance writer and social media producer.

Image: A portrait of Benjamin Franklin on a US $100 bill. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao