Biggest Holders of US Gov't Debt
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CNBC By Paul Toscano Jan 18 2011 |
As
the US government spends an
unprecedented amount of money to fix
the nation's economy, there is an
equally great need to raise the cash
to pay for it. This is accomplished
through borrowing, whereby Uncle Sam
sells Treasury securities of varying
maturity.
For investors, the government bills,
notes and bonds are considered a
safe financial product because they
have a guaranteed rate of return,
based on faith in future US tax
revenues. The government has been
partially funding operations via
Treasury securities for decades.
This borrowing adds to the national
debt, which has recently surpassed
the $14 trillion mark and is rising
every day. The amount of debt is
quickly approaching the federal debt
ceiling, a legal limit to borrowing
which currently stands at $14.294
trillion.
Much of that debt is held by private
sector, but about 40 percent is held
by public entities, including parts
of the government. Here's who owns
the most.
1. Federal Reserve and Intragovernmental Holdings
US debt holdings: $5.351 trillion
That’s right, the biggest holder of US government debt is actually within the United States. The Federal Reserve system of banks and other US intragovernmental holdings account for a stunning $5.351 trillion in US Treasury debt. This is the most recent number available (Sept 2010), and marks an all-time high.
About a decade ago, the total government holdings were "only" $2.5 trillion.
2. Other Investors/Savings Bonds
US debt holdings $1.458 trillion
With the most recent numbers from Sept 2010, 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 $1.458 trillion. Although the level of debt held in U.S. savings bonds has remained relatively constant since 2000, the broad category of "Other" investors has nearly quadrupled since reaching a four-year low in September 2007.
3. China
US debt holdings: $895.6 billion
The largest foreign holder of US Treasury securities, China currently holds $895.6 billion in American debt, although it is down from all time highs of $929 billion one year earlier in November 2009.
4. Japan
US debt holdings: $877.2 billion
A major US trade partner, Japan holds a huge amount of American debt, and has traditionally been one of the US's largest debt holders, currently owning $877.2 billion of treasury securities.
5. Pension Funds
US debt holdings: $706.4 billion
Pension funds control large amounts of money, reserved for personal retirements, and thus are obligated to make relatively safe investments. This group includes both private and local government pension funds, totaling $706.4 billion. The private pension fund category also includes US Treasury securities held by the Federal Employees Retirement System Thrift Savings Plan "G Fund."
6. Mutual Funds
US debt holdings: $637.7 billion
According to the Federal Reserve, mutual funds hold the fifth largest amount of US debt compared to any other group, although mutual fund holdings have diminished by nearly $130 billion since December 2008. Including money market funds, mutual funds and closed-end funds, this group of investments manages approximately $637.7 billion of US Treasury securities as of June 2010, which are the most recent numbers available.
7. (Tied) State and Local Governments
US debt holdings: $511.8 billion
US state and local governments have
over a half-trillion dollars
invested in American debt, according
to the Federal Reserve. That's the
same amount of US debt held by the
United Kingdom. The level of
investment has remained very stable
over the past three years, moving
within the range of $534.7 billion
and $550.3 billion from 2006 to
2009, and although the amount has
been increasing, the total value of
holdings are off the highs. However,
this number does not include an
additional $174.5 billion of
holdings of treasury notes in state
and local government pension funds.
8. (Tied) United Kingdom
US debt holdings: $511.8 billion
Britain currently holds $511.8 billion in US debt. The country has ramped up its debt throughout 2010, rising from $208.3 billion in January to the most recent November numbers, which have the holdings up approximately 246% during the year.
9. Depository Institutions
US debt holdings: $269.8 billion
As of June 2010 (the most recent numbers currently available), the Federal Reserve Board of Governors lists depository institutions as holding approximately $269.8 billion in US debt.
This group includes commercial banks, savings banks and credit unions and has nearly tripled from Q4 2008, when holdings stood at $105 billion.
10. Insurance Companies
US debt holdings: $261.8 billion
According to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, insurance companies hold $261.8 billion in Treasury securities. This group includes property-casualty and life insurance firms.
11. Oil Exporters
US debt holdings: $210.4 billion
Big oil means big money... and big investment into US debt. Included in the group of oil exporters are Ecuador, Venezuela, Indonesia, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Gabon, Libya, and Nigeria.
12. Brazil
US debt holdings: $184.4 billion
The South American economic giant has $184.4 billion in holdings, according to the Treasury. Brazil’s investment into US debt has been fluctuating slightly over the past two years, but this current level respresents an all-time high for the country.
13. Caribbean Banking Centers
US debt holdings: $146.3 billion
The US Treasury identifies this group as institutions in the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Panama and the British Virgin Islands. Holdings are currently listed at $146.3 billion, down about $20 billion from 2010's high of $166.3 billion in May 2010. The group's all-time high of $213.6 billion was reached in March 2009.
14. Hong Kong
US debt holdings: $138.9 billion
Hong Kong is one of the world's largest holders of US debt, although in 2010 the region has cut its holdings by approximately $8 billion from January levels.
15. Canada
For the first time in recent history, Canada's holdings of US debt has broken into the top 15, surpassing Taiwan by about $3.6 billion in November 2010. Canada's holdings of US debt in 2010 have increased in each of the past 12 months, shooting up 266% since November 2009.
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The answer is illustrated to the right:
The United States' total public debt outstanding was approximately $13.562 trillion at the end of the government's fiscal year on 30 September 2010. As of 4 January 2011, the United States' total public debt outstanding has surpassed 14 trillion dollars and is continuing to grow rapidly.
Despite that near half-trillion dollar increase, the percentage composition of who owns the U.S. national debt shown in the chart above is relatively unchanged.
On the whole, U.S. individuals and institutions, when including the Social Security, U.S. Civil Service and Military trust funds own 62.2% of the U.S. national debt, while foreign nations own the remaining 37.8%.
Notes
"All Other Foreign Nations" are all those except China (for which we've included Hong Kong), Japan, United Kingdom, Brazil and "Oil Exporters."
"Oil exporters" include Ecuador, Venezuela, Indonesia, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Gabon, Libya, and Nigeria.
The "U.S. Civil Service Retirement Fund" fund is the Federal Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. The "U.S. Military Retirement Fund" is the Department of Defense Retirement Fund. The "Social Security Trust Fund" is the Federal Old-Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Fund.
Data sources:
U.S. Treasury Department. Monthly Statement of the Public Debt of the United States, September 30, 2010
U.S. Treasury Department. Major Foreign Holders of Treasury Securities
(At end of September 2010)______________________________________
Who owns America's debt?
Find out which countries are propping up the economy
Guardian UK
By: Simon
Rogers
Friday 13 March
2009
China is worried about its vast United States treasury holdings and premier Wen Jiabao has urged Washington to safeguard their value. This is how the US - and all governments for that matter - borrow money: they issue government securities, which other countries and institutions buy. So, the US national debt is owned predominantly by Asian economies. The US Treasury releases the figures on this - here they are in a more useable form.
DATA: Foreign owners of US treasury securities
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