How Much Does America Owe, and Who Owns US Debt? Interest Rate and Interest Bill, 2026

The US federal debt is about $40.4 trillion (October 16, 2026). Most of it is owed at home: about $7.8 trillion sits in the government's own accounts, the Federal Reserve holds about $4.6 trillion, foreign holders about $9.3 trillion and US investors roughly $18.5 trillion. China holds about $591 billion, about 1.5% of the total, down 55% from its November 2013 peak. The average interest rate on the debt is 3.53%, the highest since 2009, and interest on the debt held by the public reached about $1.07 trillion in fiscal 2026.