To Whom Does The U.S. Government Owe Money?

The Biggest Holders of US Government Debt



1. Social Security Trust Funds

U.S. debt holdings: $2.67 trillion


2. U.S. Federal Reserve

U.S. debt holdings: $1.659 trillion

3. China

U.S. debt holdings: $1.169 trillion


4. Savings Bonds & Other Investors

U.S. debt holdings $1.102 trillion

With the most recent numbers from December
 2011, this extremely diverse group includes
individuals, government-sponsored enterprises,
brokers and dealers, bank personal trusts, estates,
savings bonds, corporate and non-corporate businesses
 for a total of $1.102 trillion.


5. Japan

U.S. debt holdings: $1.083 trillion

6. Pension Funds

U.S. debt holdings: $903.4 billion


7. Mutual Funds

U.S. debt holdings: $797.9 billion

 Including money
 market funds, mutual funds and closed-end funds,
this group of investment funds manages approximately
 $797.9 billion of U.S.



8. State and Local Governments

U.S. debt holdings: $444.6 billion



9. Medicare Trust Funds

U.S. debt holdings: $324.57 billion

The trust funds supplying capital to Medicare -
the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Supplementary
 Medical Insurance Trust Fund - hold approximately
$324.57 billion in U.S. Government debt, according
to the Treasury. The Hospital Insurance Trust Fund
draws revenue mostly from payroll taxes and pays for
 Medicare Part A benefits, including inpatient

10. Depository Institutions

U.S. debt holdings: $286.3 billion

This group includes commercial banks,
savings banks and credit unions and in
2011 holdings nearly tripled from the 2008
low of $105 billion.

European banks  hold some €1.6 trillion
 ($2.1 trillion) in sovereign bonds.




11. Oil Exporters

U.S. debt holdings: $254.5 billion
Ecuador, Venezuela, Indonesia, Bahrain, Iran,
Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates, Algeria, Gabon, Libya, and Nigeria.
The group combines for a total of $254.5 billion,



12. Insurance Companies

U.S. debt holdings: $253.7 billion

According to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors,
 insurance companies hold $253.7 billion in Treasury
securities. This group includes property-casualty
 and life insurance firms.



13. Brazil

U.S. debt holdings: $237.4 billion

14
Caribbean Banking Centers

U.S. debt holdings: $224.8 billion
15
Taiwan

U.S. debt holdings: $184.4 billion
16
Russia's $146.7 billion and

17
Hong Kong’s $138.8 billion.

2671
1659
1169
1102
1083
903
798
445
324
286
254
254
237
225
184
146
139
TOTAL: 11879


 As of 15 November 2012, debt held by the
public was approximately $11.45 trillion
or about 72% of GDP. Intra-governmental
holdings stood at $4.83 trillion, giving
a combined total public debt of $16.28 trillion