2026-03-14 · percent of global public debt stock
U.S. federal debt is a large global liability
Dollar denomination matters for investors.
When the United States borrows, it borrows in the world's reserve currency. That is why its 22% share of global public debt is a liability the whole system leans on: dollar-denominated U.S. debt is the collateral and benchmark for portfolios worldwide, so Washington's fiscal path reprices risk everywhere. The full 2026 split: Asia & Pacific 40.6%, U.S. 22%, Africa 21.8%, Americas ex-U.S. 15.6%.
1 cell = 0.1 percent of global public debt stock (0.1% of sovereign debt) · 1,000 cells
Context
The grid divides the world's general government gross debt stock into four shares: Asia & Pacific 40.6%, the United States 22%, Africa 21.8%, and the Americas excluding the U.S. 15.6%. Figures are IMF general government gross debt data via Our World in Data for 2026.
Dollar denomination is the lever: U.S. debt anchors global portfolios as the default safe asset, so moves in U.S. borrowing costs feed quickly into pricing for other sovereigns and companies.
These are gross liabilities owed by governments — a stock, not a flow — so the shares show where sovereign debt is issued, not who holds it.
General government gross debt (IMF via OWID).
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Credit this grid as Inagrid — https://inagrid.com/e/2026-03-14-pol-debt-us