Which Countries Hold The Most U.S. Government Debt? (PHOTOS)

New Treasury figures have revealed that some surprising countries own U.S. debt.

By the end last year, foreign governments held around $4.4 trillion in U.S debt in the form of Treasury bonds, according to government figures released last week.

Despite reducing the amount of U.S. debt it holds, China is still is high on the list, as are financial centers -- like the U.K., and some Caribbean islands -- where people from around the world make trades.

But there are some unexpected countries on the Treasury Department list, and the U.S. owes one major creditor 30 percent more than analysts previously estimated.

There are growing concerns that foreign countries holding U.S. debt could try to exert influence. Last month, confidential diplomatic cables from the U.S. embassies in Beijing and Hong Kong obtained by WikiLeaks, showed China's growing influence on one of America's creditors, with a top Chinese money manager asking U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for a favor.

Which countries own the most American government debt? Check out the slideshow: