The United States is the world’s largest economy, but it also owes an astonishing amount of money. While much of that debt is held within its own borders, foreign governments and investors have lent Washington trillions of dollars over the years.
Some of the nation’s biggest lenders are major economic powerhouses in their own right, while others are surprisingly small countries, administrative regions, and territories with enormous financial influence. But why are so many of them willing to lend America money, and what do they gain from doing so?
Click on to discover how America’s debt actually works and which places around the world own the most of it.
All figures are in USD.