<Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> 8,000 </Td> <Td> 251--260 </Td> <Td> 3.1--3.3% </Td> <Td> ~ 5,200 </Td> <Td> 65.0--65.4% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1997 </Th> <Td> 8,500 </Td> <Td> 188 </Td> <Td> 2.2% </Td> <Td> ~ 5,400 </Td> <Td> 63.2--63.8% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1998 </Th> <Td> 8,950 </Td> <Td> 109--113 </Td> <Td> 1.2--1.3% </Td> <Td> ~ 5,500 </Td> <Td> 61.2--61.8% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1999 </Th> <Td> 9,500 </Td> <Td> 127--130 </Td> <Td> 1.3--1.4% </Td> <Td> 5,656 </Td> <Td> 59.3% </Td> </Tr>

Who does the united states owe its national debt to