Who does the U.S. owe money too?

The U.S. owes money to a wide range of investors, including foreign governments (especially Japan, China, UK), domestic investors (individuals, banks, mutual funds), the Federal Reserve, and even U.S. government entities (intragovernmental holdings), primarily through Treasury bonds, bills, and notes, to finance its budget deficits.

Who is America's debt owed to?

America's debt is owed to a mix of domestic and foreign entities, primarily U.S. government trust funds (like Social Security), the Federal Reserve, domestic investors (mutual funds, banks, individuals), and foreign governments (like Japan and China), with most debt held within the U.S. by public and government investors.
 

Who owns over 70% of the U.S. 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.

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. 

Why can't the US get out of debt?

The U.S. doesn't pay off its national debt because it consistently spends more than it collects in revenue, creating annual deficits that add to the debt, while also using debt to fund investments and maintain the global financial system, making large cuts or tax hikes politically challenging and unpopular. Instead of paying it down, the government often borrows more to service existing debt, relying on the U.S. dollar's reserve currency status and a stable economy to attract investors, but faces growing risks from escalating interest payments and potential loss of confidence. 

Who does the US Owe its $35 Trillion debt? (National Debt Explained)

What happens if America refuses to pay its debt?

A default on all outstanding U.S. Treasuries would almost surely precipitate a global financial crisis. Further, because about 70% of the debt is held by Americans, most of the savings from foregone interest payments would be at the expense of U.S. investors.

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.

Which country owes the most money?

The United States owes the most money in absolute terms, with its government debt exceeding $38 trillion, followed by China and Japan; however, when debt is measured as a percentage of GDP (debt-to-GDP ratio), Japan has a very high burden, and countries like Greece or Lebanon face extreme levels relative to their economic output, with the U.S. also having a significant debt load compared to its GDP. Different metrics show different leaders, but the U.S. consistently tops lists for total debt. 

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 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. 

What would happen if the US paid off all its debt?

If the U.S. paid off all its debt, it would trigger an economic crisis by eliminating safe investment options (Treasury bonds), causing a massive cash glut, crashing interest rates, disrupting monetary policy (Federal Reserve operations), forcing cuts in government services/spending, and potentially leading to a depression as the economy would lose its primary safe asset, disrupting the entire global financial system that relies on U.S. debt. The process itself, whether through extreme taxes or printing money, would likely cause hyperinflation or deep recession, while the end result removes a critical benchmark for the global economy.
 

Who was the last president to balance the US budget?

The last president to oversee a balanced federal budget was Bill Clinton, whose administration achieved budget surpluses for four consecutive years, from fiscal years 1998 to 2001, marking the first sustained period of budget balance in decades. This rare feat was due to a combination of economic growth, spending cuts, and tax increases, and it ended with the start of the new millennium, after which deficits returned. 

What is the highest US debt ever?

The highest U.S. national debt ever in absolute dollar terms is over $38 trillion, a record hit in late 2025, with figures surpassing $38 trillion and climbing towards $39 trillion by late 2025/early 2026, marking the fastest accumulation of trillions outside of pandemic spending. While the dollar amount is a record high, the debt-to-GDP ratio, a better measure of debt burden, exceeded 100% in 2013 and reached about 124% by fiscal year 2025, nearing its all-time peak from World War II.
 

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 #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. 

Why is US debt so high?

U.S. debt is high due to a combination of consistent budget deficits from spending exceeding revenue, driven by mandatory spending on Social Security and healthcare for an aging population, significant costs from wars (like Iraq/Afghanistan) and recessions (2008, COVID-19), tax cuts reducing revenue, and rising interest payments on the growing debt, creating a structural imbalance.
 

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.

How many $100 bills are printed each day?

In general, higher value bills have higher printing costs, with the $100 bill costing 8.6 cents to print. The government prints about 38 million notes each day (mostly to replace bills that are torn, soiled or otherwise unusable).

How fast could the U.S. get out of debt?

Absent massive revenue increases – which President Trump has never mentioned – it would be literally impossible to pay off the national debt over the four years of the next presidential term, and practically impossible to pay it off over the ten-year budget window.

Which country has zero debt?

As the world's biggest gambling hub, Macao SAR has zero debt, bolstered by billions in gaming revenue and healthy financial reserves. Liechtenstein ranks in second, with virtually no debt and the only country in Europe ranking in the top 10.

Who has more debt, the US or China?

Yes, China's total national debt (government, corporate, and household) as a percentage of GDP is now generally considered higher than the U.S., though the U.S. has a much larger absolute dollar amount of government debt; China's debt, especially local government and SOE debt, has surged, reaching over 300% of GDP, exceeding the U.S.'s debt-to-GDP ratio and posing significant economic risks due to reliance on credit-fueled growth, state-owned enterprise leverage, and property sector issues. 

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.
 

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.