The U.S. international investment position is a statistical balance sheet showing the value of U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and the value of U.S. financial assets owned by foreign residents at a particular date.
In its June 2025 annual-update release, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the U.S. net international investment position was −$24.61 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2025. U.S. assets abroad totalled $36.85 trillion, while U.S. liabilities to foreign residents totalled $61.47 trillion.
This article explains the Q1 2025 result, why the net position became less negative during the quarter, what the annual update changed and how the figures compare with the latest information available in July 2026.
What Is the Net International Investment Position?
The net international investment position, or NIIP, is calculated as follows:
NIIP = U.S. Assets Abroad − U.S. Liabilities to Foreign Residents
A positive amount means external assets exceed external liabilities. A negative amount means foreign residents’ financial claims on the United States exceed U.S. residents’ financial claims on the rest of the world.
The NIIP is a stock measured at the end of a period. It is different from international transactions, which are flows recorded during a quarter or year.
Q1 2025 U.S. International Investment Position
| Measure | End of Q1 2025 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. assets abroad | $36.85 trillion | Financial claims of U.S. residents on foreign residents |
| U.S. liabilities to foreign residents | $61.47 trillion | U.S. financial assets owned by foreign residents |
| Net international investment position | −$24.61 trillion | External liabilities exceeded external assets |
How the Position Changed from Q4 2024
The revised net position at the end of Q4 2024 was −$26.54 trillion. By the end of Q1 2025 it had moved to −$24.61 trillion, an improvement of approximately $1.92 trillion.
| Source of change | Effect on net position | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Net financial transactions | −$277.5 billion | Transactions made the net position more negative |
| Other changes in position | +$2.20 trillion | Price, exchange-rate and other valuation changes improved the position |
| Total change | +$1.92 trillion | The NIIP became less negative |
The improvement did not result from a sudden elimination of net borrowing. It was mainly caused by valuation changes that reduced the market value of U.S. liabilities more than U.S. assets.
Why Price Changes Mattered
Equity markets can change the NIIP substantially because both U.S. residents and foreign residents hold large cross-border equity positions.
When U.S. share prices decline, the market value of U.S. equities held by foreign residents may fall, reducing U.S. liabilities. When foreign share prices change, the market value of foreign equities owned by U.S. residents changes U.S. assets.
Q1 2025 price movements produced a large favourable effect on the net position because the reduction in liabilities exceeded the reduction in assets.
Exchange-Rate Effects
Many U.S. external assets are denominated in foreign currencies, while a large proportion of U.S. liabilities is denominated in U.S. dollars. When foreign currencies appreciate against the dollar, the dollar value of foreign-currency assets rises. When they depreciate, the dollar value falls.
Exchange-rate effects should therefore be distinguished from new investment transactions. A company or investor may make no new transaction while the reported dollar value of an existing position changes.
Main Categories of International Assets and Liabilities
Direct investment
Direct investment generally exists when an investor owns or controls at least 10 percent of the voting interest in a business enterprise. It includes equity and debt positions between related entities.
Portfolio investment
Portfolio investment includes cross-border holdings of equity and debt securities that do not qualify as direct investment. It is a major component of both U.S. assets and liabilities.
Other investment
Other investment includes loans, deposits, trade credit and similar financial claims not classified as direct investment, portfolio investment, financial derivatives or reserve assets.
Financial derivatives
Derivative positions include contracts linked to interest rates, exchange rates, securities, commodities and other underlying variables.
Reserve assets
Reserve assets are external assets controlled by U.S. monetary authorities and available for international financing and related purposes.
What the 2025 Annual Update Changed
The Q1 2025 release incorporated newly available and revised source data for 2022–2024. BEA also incorporated information relating to the Federal Reserve’s Foreign and International Monetary Authorities Repurchase Agreement Facility.
Annual updates may affect:
- direct-investment positions;
- portfolio and other-investment assets and liabilities;
- financial-derivative positions;
- historical valuation changes; and
- the net position for earlier quarters.
For that reason, a historical figure should always be associated with its release date or revision status.
Updated Context: Q1 2026
The June 2026 annual-update release reported a U.S. net international investment position of −$21.27 trillion at the end of Q1 2026. Assets were $43.37 trillion and liabilities were $64.64 trillion.
The revised Q4 2025 position was −$21.87 trillion. During Q1 2026, U.S. assets increased by $462.9 billion while U.S. liabilities decreased by $140.4 billion.
| Reference date | Assets | Liabilities | Net position |
|---|---|---|---|
| End of Q4 2024 — revised in June 2025 | See revised tables | See revised tables | −$26.54T |
| End of Q1 2025 — June 2025 release | $36.85T | $61.47T | −$24.61T |
| End of Q1 2026 — June 2026 annual update | $43.37T | $64.64T | −$21.27T |
The movement between these dates should not be interpreted as a simple transaction-only trend. Market prices, currency movements, revised source data and methodological updates all matter.
Does a Negative NIIP Mean the United States Is Insolvent?
No. A negative NIIP means external liabilities exceed external assets at measured market values. It is not the same as corporate bankruptcy or the public-debt balance.
Interpretation should consider:
- the currency of assets and liabilities;
- the maturity and liquidity of instruments;
- the income earned on assets and paid on liabilities;
- the size and productivity of the economy;
- the role of the U.S. dollar in international finance; and
- the composition of direct, portfolio and other investment.
IIP vs International Transactions
| International investment position | International transactions |
|---|---|
| Stock measured at a date | Flow measured during a period |
| Includes valuation changes in the final position | Records transactions in goods, services, income and financial assets |
| Comparable to an external balance sheet | Comparable to a period statement of cross-border flows |
Limitations of the NIIP
- It is a snapshot and may move sharply with market prices.
- Historical estimates can be revised.
- The net total hides gross positions and differences in risk.
- It does not directly show payment capacity or default probability.
- It should be analysed with investment-income flows, the current account, debt maturity and currency exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the U.S. NIIP at the end of Q1 2025?
BEA reported a net position of −$24.61 trillion, with assets of $36.85 trillion and liabilities of $61.47 trillion.
Did the position improve during Q1 2025?
Yes. It became approximately $1.92 trillion less negative than the revised Q4 2024 position.
What caused the improvement?
Favourable price, exchange-rate and other valuation changes more than offset the negative effect of net financial transactions.
Was the Q4 2024 figure revised?
Yes. The June 2025 annual update reported a revised Q4 2024 net position of −$26.54 trillion.
What is the latest available figure in July 2026?
The latest released estimate is −$21.27 trillion at the end of Q1 2026.
Related Accounting and Finance Topics
- U.S. International Investment Position 2024
- U.S. International Transactions 2024
- Balance Sheet Explained
- Money Measurement Concept
Conclusion
At the end of Q1 2025, the U.S. net international investment position was −$24.61 trillion. The position improved from the revised Q4 2024 level mainly because valuation changes reduced net liabilities, even though financial transactions had an offsetting negative effect.
The NIIP should be interpreted as an external financial balance sheet rather than as a simple measure of debt or insolvency. Current analysis should use the latest BEA tables because annual updates can revise historical positions materially.
Authoritative references: BEA — U.S. International Investment Position, Q1 2025, BEA — International Transactions and Investment Position, Q1 2026, and BEA — International Investment Position Data.