What country is lowest in debt?

The country with the lowest debt, measured by debt-to-GDP ratio, is often listed as Macao SAR (near zero) or Brunei, followed closely by Liechtenstein, Kuwait, and Turkmenistan, all benefiting from strong resource revenues or fiscal management, though rankings can shift slightly by source and year.

Which country has the least debt?

Countries with the Lowest National Debt

• Brunei. 3.2%
• Afghanistan. 7.8%
• Kuwait. 11.5%
• Democratic Republic of Congo. 15.2%
• Eswatini. 15.5%
• Palestine. 16.4%
• Russia. 17.8%

What country is the highest in debt?

The United States has the largest national debt in absolute dollar terms, with figures nearing $38 trillion in late 2025, followed by China and Japan. However, when debt is measured as a percentage of economic output (debt-to-GDP), Japan has the highest ratio (over 230%), indicating a greater burden relative to its size, with other high-ratio countries including Greece and Italy.
 

Who got the national debt to 0?

Public Debt In America

Over the following 45 years, the debt grew. Notably, the public debt actually shrank to zero by January 1835, under President Andrew Jackson. But soon after, it quickly grew into the millions again. The American Civil War resulted in dramatic debt growth.

Who owns over 70% of the US debt?

Who owns the most U.S. debt? Around 70-80 percent of U.S. debt is held by domestic financial actors and institutions in the United States. U.S. Treasuries represent a convenient, liquid, low-risk store of value.

Why Every Country Is in Debt? And Who Do They Owe?

How many Americans are 100% debt free?

Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve.

Can the USA get out of debt?

There are a number of methods to reduce the U.S. national debt that go beyond raising taxes and cutting discretionary spending. One of the most controversial is to open the nation's borders to more immigration, kick-starting entrepreneurship and consumption.

How much does China owe the USA?

China holds a significant amount of U.S. debt, primarily in Treasury bonds, with recent figures (late 2024/early 2025) showing China owning around $750-$800 billion in U.S. securities, making it the second-largest foreign holder after Japan, though this is a smaller percentage of the total U.S. debt. This amount fluctuates as China has been reducing its holdings, but it represents loans from China to the U.S. government, not a debt the U.S. owes to China in a punitive way, but rather investments in U.S. assets. 

How many Americans have $20,000 in credit card debt?

A majority of Americans (53%) carry some, with an average balance of $7,719. However, a third of those carrying debt (32%) owe $10,000 or more, while almost 1 in 10 (9%) have credit card debt over $20,000.

What is the poorest country in the world?

As of late 2025/early 2026, South Sudan is widely considered the poorest country in the world, consistently ranking last or near-last by GDP per capita due to civil conflict, political instability, and resource issues, though Afghanistan also appears at the very bottom in some rankings. Other nations like Burundi, Central African Republic, and Yemen also face extreme poverty.
 

Who owns the 36 trillion debt?

Who Owns All that Debt? On October 21, 2025, the nation's gross debt eclipsed $38 trillion. Of that amount, approximately 80 percent, was debt held by the public — representing cash borrowed from domestic and foreign investors.

Which country takes the highest loan from World Bank?

The United States has the highest total government debt by far, followed by China and Japan, which together hold a massive portion of global debt, though the World Bank focuses on various debt metrics for different country types. While the US leads in total debt, Japan often has the highest debt-to-GDP ratio among major economies, while low-income nations like Mozambique face severe debt distress relative to their income. 

Who owes the US the most money?

The U.S. owes the most money to its own domestic investors and government entities, holding the largest portion of its national debt, but among foreign countries, Japan is the largest holder of U.S. debt, followed by the United Kingdom and China, who consistently rank as the top foreign creditors. 

What happens if China starts selling US bonds?

Since the U.S. dollar has a variable exchange rate, however, any sale by any nation holding huge U.S. debt or dollar reserves will trigger the adjustment of the trade balance at the international level. The offloaded U.S. reserves by China will either end up with another nation or will return to the U.S.

Which country has the most money?

The United States has the most money by total economic output (GDP) and total household wealth, but Luxembourg, Singapore, Ireland, Qatar, and Switzerland often top rankings for wealth per person (GDP per Capita/PPP) due to smaller populations and strong financial sectors, making the "richest country" depend on whether you mean total size or individual prosperity. 

Who borrowed from Social Security?

The U.S. Federal Government borrows from Social Security's trust funds (OASI & DI) by investing surplus payroll taxes into special Treasury securities, using the money for general spending like wars or tax cuts, and promising to repay it later with interest; this is a standard practice, not stealing, but it shifts future obligations, with presidents from Johnson to Bush (and beyond) participating in this "intragovernmental borrowing," which is essentially an IOU from the government to itself, backed by the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. 

Can the US print money to pay off debt?

Shortly after the founding of the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Treasury adopted policies that induced the Fed to monetize government debt. Monetizing debt means the government borrows money to buy goods and then repays its debt by printing more money.

Who owes the most money to China?

Brazil: $54.3 billion (£43bn) total debt

Across South America, Brazil is easily the largest recipient of BRI funding and holds the most total debt to China.

What is the #1 cause of debt in the US?

The leading cause of debt in America, by far, is mortgage debt, making up about 70% of total household debt, as housing is the largest purchase for most Americans. Following mortgages, major drivers of personal debt include auto loans, student loans, credit cards, often used for unexpected expenses like medical bills, and rising costs for necessities like childcare. 

Is Trump going to forgive tax debt?

There is no IRS forgiveness plan officially introduced by Trump in 2025. While some campaign proposals have discussed tax simplification or reduced rates, they do not include debt cancellation for individuals with unpaid taxes.

What is the credit card limit for $70,000 salary?

The credit limit you can expect for a $70,000 salary across all your credit cards could be as much as $14000 to $21000, or even higher in some cases, according to our research. The exact amount depends heavily on multiple factors, like your credit score and how many credit lines you have open.

Which gender has more debt?

Men have 2 percent more credit card debt than women. Men have 9.7 percent more mortgage debt than women. Men have 20 percent more personal loan debt than women. Women have 2.7 percent more student loan debt than men.

Is being debt-free the new rich?

Yes, for many people, being debt-free feels like the new rich because it provides immense financial freedom, peace of mind, and security, even if it doesn't mean having millions in the bank; it shifts the definition of wealth from pure income to a lack of financial burdens, allowing for more saving, investing, and enjoying life without stress. While traditional wealth is assets minus liabilities, eliminating debt frees up income for wealth-building, making it a significant step towards financial well-being and independence, especially as many struggle with rising costs and stagnant wages.