External Debt: What is the composition of America’s external debt and to whom is it owed?
I know the US external debt is around 12 trillion, but what is the composition of the said debt? Treasury securities? What?
And second, does anyone have figures for who owns this outstanding debt? I have heard for example that China owns anything from 400 Billion to over 1 trillion. Does anyone have definite figures of these?
The public debt (just treasury securities) is about $9 trillion. of this, only $4 trillion is held by non-US governmental entities. of the $4 trillion, about $2 trillion is held by foreign governments and foreign individuals.
http://www.fms.treas.gov/bulletin/b2007-3ofs.doc
This figure does not include a number of unfunded commitments such as social security.