Despite being the world's largest economy, America's national debt has soared to historic levels following the COVID-19 pandemic and now exceeds a staggering $34 trillion ($26.7tn). As a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), the nation's debt is the highest it's been since World War II. But who owns it?

American debt can be bought by anyone through US Treasury securities (bills, notes or bonds), which represent an IOU from the government to the investor. While most of the debt is owed domestically, foreign investors currently hold more than $8 trillion (£6.3tn), both through central banks and private funds. For many years, China, the world's second-largest economy, was America's biggest creditor, but frosty relations between the two superpowers have sparked some significant changes.

From the lowest to the highest, read on as we reveal the countries that hold the bulk of America's debt today, and find out where China figures in the rankings.

Based on the US Treasury’s most recent data from December 2023. All dollar amounts in US dollars.

America shockingly owes over $8 trillion to these countries