The Largest Foreign Investors in U.S. Treasuries
According to U.S. Treasury data, the percentage of U.S. debt held by foreign investors was about 33.9% of the United States’ total debt load as of February 2013. At that time, non-U.S. investors held $5.66 trillion of the country’s $16.69 trillion debt. The percentage of foreign holdings compares to the the 31.1% level registered at the end of 2011.
Below, find out what countries are the largest owners of U.S. Treasury securities, and how their holdings have changed in the prior 12 months. All amounts are in billions of U.S. dollars.
Learn more: China is the largest holder of U.S. debt. Does it matter?
- China, Mainland 1222.9 +5.9%
- Japan 1097.1 +0.8%
- Caribbean Banking Centers (4) 286.7 +230.3%
- Brazil 260.0 +13.8%
- Oil Exporters (3) 257.2 -4.6%
- Taiwan 188.2 +2.5%
- Switzerland 185.8 +28.0%
- Belgium 184.9 +47.9%
- Russia 162.1 +11.9%
- Hong Kong 143.2 +1.2%
- Luxembourg 141.3 +2.8%
- United Kingdom (2) 132.9 +12.1
- Ireland 109.4 +13.7%
- Singapore 103.7 +22.4%
- Germany 89.9 +47.9%
- Norway 76.9 +29.7%
- Thailand 66.0 +21.5%
- Mexico 63.7 +100.3%
- Canada 63.0 +17.8%
- France 59.2 +49.1%
- India 57.1 +29.5%
- Turkey 55.7 +85.0%
- South Korea 50.1 -1.4%
- Philippines 40.1 +8.1%
- Chile 33.1 +47.1%
- Poland 31.7 +16.1%
- Netherlands 31.7 +7.7%
- Sweden 29.9 +4.9%
- Colombia 29.7 +18.3%
- Australia 29.5 +26.1%
- Italy 27.2 +16.7%
- Spain 23.9 +12.2%
- Israel 22.0 -4.8%
- Malaysia 18.8 -10.0%
- Peru 15.7 +76.4%
- Denmark 14.2 -7.8%
- South Africa 13.2 -2.3%
- All Other 238.9 +10.5%
- Grand Total 5656.9 +10.8%
Source: Department of the Treasury/Federal Reserve Board report, December 17, 2012. Estimated foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury marketable and non-marketable bills, bonds, and notes reported under the Treasury International Capital (TIC) reporting system are based on annual Surveys of Foreign Holdings of U.S. Securities and on monthly data.
(2) United Kingdom includes Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
(3) Oil exporters include Ecuador, Venezuela, Indonesia, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Gabon, Libya, and Nigeria.
(4) Caribbean Banking Centers include Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, and British Virgin Islands.
