Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by the Public (FYGFDPUN) from Q1 1970 to Q1 2025 about public, debt, federal, and USA.

Total outstanding debt of the U.S. government reported daily. Includes a breakout of intragovernmental holdings (federal debt held by U.S. government) and debt held by the public (federal debt held by entities outside the U.S. government).

Graph and download economic data for Gross Federal Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (GFDGDPA188S) from 1939 to 2023 about gross, debt, federal, GDP, and USA.

United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: as % of GDP data was reported at 97.200 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 95.800 % for 2022. United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: as % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 43.600 % from Sep 1940 (Median) to 2023, with 84 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 106.100 % in 1946 and a record low of 23.200 % in 1974. United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: as % of GDP 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.F072: Federal Debt: Annual.

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.

United States - Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of Gross Domestic Product was 96.51841 % of GDP in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of Gross Domestic Product reached a record high of 103.07458 in April of 2020 and a record low of 21.85098 in July of 1974. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of Gross Domestic Product - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of GDP: 55 years of historical data from 1970 to 2025.

United States Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: PDSL: Debt Held by the Public data was reported at 15,822.723 USD bn in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 15,740.453 USD bn for Sep 2018. United States Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: PDSL: Debt Held by the Public data is updated monthly, averaging 7,713.217 USD bn from Jan 2001 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 214 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,822.723 USD bn in Oct 2018 and a record low of 3,220.106 USD bn in Jul 2001. United States Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: PDSL: Debt Held by the Public data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F004: Federal Debt.

The Gift Contributions to Reduce Debt Held by the Public dataset provides the monthly total for gift contributions received by the U.S. Treasury that were donated to reduce the public debt. These donations can include money, outstanding government obligations (such as savings bonds) and property that is sold for cash. Gifts may be classified as inter vivos (from a living person) or testamentary bequests (from a person's will).

United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public was 26235.60000 Bil. of $ in September of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public reached a record high of 26235.60000 in September of 2023 and a record low of 41.40000 in June of 1939. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by Foreign and International Investors as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (HBFIGDQ188S) from Q1 1970 to Q1 2025 about foreign, debt, federal, GDP, and USA.

The U.S. debt held by the public amounted to 28.2 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, which was about 97.8 percent of the U.S. GDP. The forecast predicts an increase in public debt up to 52.06 trillion U.S. dollars in 2035, which would be about 118.5 percent of the U.S. GDP. The actual total debt accrued by the U.S. annually can be accessed here.

In September 2024, the national debt of the United States had risen up to 35.46 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.

United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of Gross Domestic Product was 94.64260 % of GDP in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of Gross Domestic Product reached a record high of 106.31331 in January of 1946 and a record low of 22.24246 in January of 1974. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of Gross Domestic Product - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

The Debt to the Penny dataset provides information about the total outstanding public debt and is reported each day. Debt to the Penny is made up of intragovernmental holdings and debt held by the public, including securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. Total public debt outstanding is composed of Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), Floating Rate Notes (FRNs), and Federal Financing Bank (FFB) securities, as well as Domestic Series, Foreign Series, State and Local Government Series (SLGS), U.S. Savings Securities, and Government Account Series (GAS) securities. Debt to the Penny is updated at 3:00 PM EST each business day with data from the previous business day.

United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: Fed Reserve Sys: as % of GDP data was reported at 18.400 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22.300 % for 2022. United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: Fed Reserve Sys: as % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 5.400 % from Sep 1940 (Median) to 2023, with 84 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.700 % in 2021 and a record low of 1.800 % in 1942. United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: Fed Reserve Sys: as % of GDP 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.F072: Federal Debt: Annual.

U.S. Federal Debt Held by the Public: 55 years of historical data from 1970 to 2025.

As of December 2024, Japan held United States treasury securities totaling about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars. Foreign holders of United States treasury debt According to the Federal Reserve and U.S. Department of the Treasury, foreign countries held a total of 8.5 trillion U.S. dollars in U.S. treasury securities as of December 2024. Of the total held by foreign countries, Japan and Mainland China held the greatest portions, with China holding 759 billion U.S. dollars in U.S. securities. The U.S. public debt In 2023, the United States had a total public national debt of 33.2 trillion U.S. dollars, an amount that has been rising steadily, particularly since 2008. In 2023, the total interest expense on debt held by the public of the United States reached 678 billion U.S. dollars, while 197 billion U.S. dollars in interest expense were intra governmental debt holdings. Total outlays of the U.S. government were 6.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. By 2029, spending is projected to reach 8.3 trillion U.S. dollars.