In September 2023, the national debt of the United States had risen up to 33.17 trillion U.S. dollars. The national debt per capita had risen to 85,552 U.S. dollars in 2021. As represented by the statistic above, the public debt of the United States has been continuously rising.

U.S. public debt Public debt, also known as national and governmental debt, is the debt owed by a nations’ central government. In the case of the U.S., national debt is owed by the federal government to Treasury security holders. Generally speaking, government debt increases with government spending, and can be decreased through taxes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government increased spending significantly to finance virus infrastructure, aid, and various forms of economic relief.

International public debt

Venezuela leads the global ranking of the 20 countries with the highest public debt in 2021. In relation to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Venezuela's public debt amounted to around 306.95 percent of GDP. Eritrea was ranked fifth, with an estimated debt of 170 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

The national debt of the United Kingdom is forecasted to grow from 87 percent in 2022 to 70 percent in 2027, in relation to the Gross Domestic Product. These figures include England, Wales, Scotland as well as Northern Ireland.

Greece had the highest national debt among EU countries as of the 4th quarter of 2020 in relation to the Gross Domestic Product. Germany ranked 13th in the EU, with its national debt amounting to 69 percent of GDP in the same time period.

Tuvalu was one of the 20 countries with the lowest national debt in 2021 in relation to the GDP, while Macao had an estimated level of national debt of zero percent, the lowest of any country. The data refer to the debts of the entire state, including the central government, the provinces, municipalities, local authorities and social insurance.

Summarizes the U.S. government's total outstanding debt at the end of each fiscal year from 1789 to the current year.

In October 2024, the public debt of the United States was around 35.46 trillion U.S. dollars, a slight decrease from the previous month. The U.S. public debt ceiling has become one of the most prominent political issues in the States in recent years, with debate over how to handle it causing political turmoil between Democrats and Republicans. The public debt The public debt of the United States has risen quickly since 2000, and in 2022 was more than five times higher than in 2000. The public debt is the total outstanding debt that is owed by the federal government. This figure comprises debt owed to the public (for example, through bonds) and intergovernmental debt (debt owed to various governmental departments), such as Social Security. Debt in Politics The debt issue has become a highly contentious topic within the U.S. government. Measures such as stimulus packages, social programs and tax cuts add to the public debt. Additionally, spending tends to peak during large global events, such as the Great Depression, the 2008 financial crisis, or the COVID-19 pandemic - all of which had a detrimental impact on the U.S. economy. Although both major political parties in the U.S. tend to blame one another for increases in the country's debt, a recent analysis found that both parties have contributed almost equally to national expenditure. Debate on raising the debt ceiling, or the amount of debt the federal government is allowed to have at any one time, was a leading topic in the government shutdown in October 2013. Despite plans from both Democrats and Republicans on how to lower the national debt, it is only expected to increase over the next decade.

The United States recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 124.30 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - United States Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the gross federal debt in the United States amounted to around 93,500 U.S. dollars per capita. This is a moderate increase from the previous year, when the per capita national debt amounted to about 92,528 U.S. dollars. The total debt accrued by the U.S. annually can be accessed here. Federal debt of the United States The level of national debt held by the United States government has risen sharply in the years following the Great Recession. Federal debt is the amount of debt the federal government owes to creditors who hold assets in the form of debt securities. As with individuals and consumers, there is a common consensus among economists that holding debt is not necessarily problematic for government so long as the public debt is held at a sustainable level. Although there is no agreed upon ratio of debt to gross domestic product, the increasing debt held by the Federal Reserve has become a major part of the political discourse in the United States. Politics and the national debt In recent years, debate over the debt ceiling has been of concern to domestic politicians, the owners of federal debt, and global economy as a whole. The debt ceiling is a legislated maximum amount that national debt can reach intended to impose a degree of fiscal prudence on incumbent governments. However, as national debt has grown the debt ceiling has been reached, thus forcing legislative action by Congress. In both 2011 and 2013, new legislation was passed by Congress allowing the debt ceiling to be raised. The Budget Control Act of 2011 and the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 successively allowed the government to avoid defaulting on national debt and therefore avert a potential economic crisis.

U.S. debt to gdp ratio for 2023 was 114.76%, a 1.94% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>U.S. debt to gdp ratio for 2022 was <strong>112.82%</strong>, a <strong>5.58% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>U.S. debt to gdp ratio for 2021 was <strong>118.40%</strong>, a <strong>6.11% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>U.S. debt to gdp ratio for 2020 was <strong>124.51%</strong>, a <strong>24.46% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year.

United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual data was reported at 20,205.705 USD bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 19,539.450 USD bn for 2016. United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual data is updated yearly, averaging 803.034 USD bn from Sep 1940 (Median) to 2017, with 78 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20,205.705 USD bn in 2017 and a record low of 50.696 USD bn in 1940. United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Management and Budget. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F005: Federal Debt: Office of Management & Budget.

Interactive chart of historical data comparing the level of gross domestic product (GDP) with Federal Debt.

Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by Federal Gov't Account data was reported at 5,540.254 USD bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,371.826 USD bn for 2016. Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by Federal Gov't Account data is updated yearly, averaging 179.319 USD bn from Sep 1940 (Median) to 2017, with 78 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,540.254 USD bn in 2017 and a record low of 7.924 USD bn in 1940. Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by Federal Gov't Account data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Management and Budget. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F005: Federal Debt: Office of Management & Budget.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Government; Debt Securities; Liability (DISCONTINUED) (FGDSL) from Q4 1945 to Q4 2017 about liabilities, debt, securities, federal, government, and USA.

United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by the Public: Other data was reported at 12,200.032 USD bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 11,704.168 USD bn for 2016. United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by the Public: Other data is updated yearly, averaging 508.179 USD bn from Sep 1940 (Median) to 2017, with 78 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12,200.032 USD bn in 2017 and a record low of 40.314 USD bn in 1940. United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by the Public: Other data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Management and Budget. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F005: Federal Debt: Office of Management & Budget.

In 2023, the U.S. government spent a total of 875 billion U.S. dollars on interest of public debt. 497 billion U.S. dollars was on interest for debt held by the public.

The national debt of the United Stated can be found here.

This table contains 29 series, with data for years 2009 - 2019 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 item: Canada) Central government debt (29 items: A. Federal debt (accumulated deficit), (B - E); B. Net debt, (C - D); C. Liabilities, gross debt; Accounts payable and accrued liabilities; ...).

Credit card debt in the United States has been growing at a fast pace between 2021 and 2025. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the overall amount of credit card debt reached its highest value throughout the timeline considered here. COVID-19 had a big impact on the indebtedness of Americans, as credit card debt decreased from *** billion U.S. dollars in the last quarter of 2019 to *** billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2021. What portion of Americans use credit cards? A substantial portion of Americans had at least one credit card in 2025. That year, the penetration rate of credit cards in the United States was ** percent. This number increased by nearly seven percentage points since 2014. The primary factors behind the high utilization of credit cards in the United States are a prevalent culture of convenience, a wide range of reward schemes, and consumer preferences for postponed payments. Which companies dominate the credit card issuing market? In 2024, the leading credit card issuers in the U.S. by volume were JPMorgan Chase & Co. and American Express. Both firms recorded transactions worth over one trillion U.S. dollars that year. Citi and Capital One were the next banks in that ranking, with the transactions made with their credit cards amounting to over half a trillion U.S. dollars that year. Those industry giants, along with other prominent brand names in the industry such as Bank of America, Synchrony Financial, Wells Fargo, and others, dominate the credit card market. Due to their extensive customer base, appealing rewards, and competitive offerings, they have gained a significant market share, making them the preferred choice for consumers.

United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by the Public: Fed Reserve System data was reported at 2,465.418 USD bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,463.456 USD bn for 2016. United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by the Public: Fed Reserve System data is updated yearly, averaging 115.537 USD bn from Sep 1940 (Median) to 2017, with 78 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,465.418 USD bn in 2017 and a record low of 2.180 USD bn in 1941. United States Gross Federal Debt: Annual: Held by the Public: Fed Reserve System data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Management and Budget. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F005: Federal Debt: Office of Management & Budget.

United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Liability (DISCONTINUED) was 16455261.00000 Mil. of $ in October of 2017, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Liability (DISCONTINUED) reached a record high of 16455261.00000 in October of 2017 and a record low of 220012.00000 in October of 1948. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Liability (DISCONTINUED) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

United States Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: Balance data was reported at 0.025 USD bn in Jan 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.025 USD bn for Dec 2017. United States Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: Balance data is updated monthly, averaging 133.177 USD bn from Jul 1974 (Median) to Jan 2018, with 487 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,910.283 USD bn in Feb 2010 and a record low of 0.000 USD bn in Apr 2013. United States Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: Balance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F004: Federal Debt. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). By Act of February 4, 2013, Public Law 113-3 as well as the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, Public Law 113-46 the Statutory Debt Limit has been suspended for the periods of Feb-13 to Apr-13 and Oct-13 to Jan-14. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). By the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74, the Statutory Debt Limit has been suspended through March 15, 2017. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). By the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017, Public Law 115-56, the Statutory Debt Limit was suspended through December 8, 2017. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). By the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Bipartisan Budget Act, 2018, Public law 115-119, the Statutory Debt Limit was suspended through March 1, 2019.

United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Asset (DISCONTINUED) was 493.00000 Mil. of $ in October of 2017, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Asset (DISCONTINUED) reached a record high of 196967.00000 in October of 2009 and a record low of 0.00000 in October of 1946. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Asset (DISCONTINUED) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on May of 2025.

In the fiscal year of 2021, total state and local government debt in the state of New York amounted to 20.07 percent of the annual Gross Domestic Product of the state. In Kentucky, this figure amounted to 22.78 percent of the state's annual GDP, the highest of any state.

The national debt of the United Stated can be found here.

This statistic presents the average credit card debt of Americans in 2017, by income. In that year, the credit card debt of Americans who earned more than 160 thousand U.S. dollars amounted to 11,200 U.S. dollars.