This borrowing adds to the national debt, which has recently surpassed $15 trillion and is rising every second. The amount of debt is quickly approaching the federal debt ceiling, a legal limit to borrowing that currently stands at $16.4 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. Foreign countries listed include private and public investors, according to monthly U.S. Treasury data.
1. Federal Reserve and Intragovernmental Holdings
U.S. debt holdings: $6.328 trillion
. . . .
2. China
U.S. debt holdings: $1.132 trillion
. . . .
3. Other Investors/Savings Bonds
U.S. debt holdings $1.107 trillion
With the most recent numbers from June 2011, this extremely diverse group includes individuals, government-sponsored enterprises, brokers and dealers, bank personal trusts, estates, savings bonds, corporate and noncorporate businesses for a total of $1.107 trillion.
. . . .
4. Japan
U.S. debt holdings: $1.038 trillion
. . . .
5. Pension Funds
U.S. debt holdings: $842.2 billion
. . . .
6. Mutual Funds
U.S. debt holdings: $653.5 billion
. . . .
7. State and Local Governments
U.S. debt holdings: $484.4 billion
. . . .
8. The United Kingdom
U.S. debt holdings: $429.4 billion
. . . .
9. Depository Institutions
U.S. debt holdings: $284.5 billion
. . . .
10. Insurance Companies
U.S. debt holdings: $250.1 billion
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