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.

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.

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).

United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: Other: as % of GDP data was reported at 78.900 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 73.600 % for 2022. United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: Other: as % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 39.500 % from Sep 1940 (Median) to 2023, with 84 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.600 % in 1946 and a record low of 17.700 % in 1974. United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: Other: 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.

United States Federal Debt: Held by Public: Public Debt Securities data was reported at 15,778.806 USD bn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15,802.853 USD bn for Aug 2018. United States Federal Debt: Held by Public: Public Debt Securities data is updated monthly, averaging 3,685.167 USD bn from Jan 1980 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 465 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,802.853 USD bn in Aug 2018 and a record low of 663.196 USD bn in Jan 1980. United States Federal Debt: Held by Public: Public Debt Securities 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.

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 July of 2025.

United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Average Interest Rate data was reported at 3.448 % in 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.442 % for 2027. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Average Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.289 % from Sep 2014 (Median) to 2028, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.531 % in 2023 and a record low of 1.654 % in 2015. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Average Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Congressional Budget Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F006: Federal Debt: Projection: Congressional Budget Office.

In 2023, the gross federal debt in the United States amounted to around ****** U.S. dollars per capita. This is a moderate increase from the previous year, when the per capita national debt amounted to about ****** 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.

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.

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 July of 2025.

By 2034, the gross federal debt of the United States is projected to be about 54.39 trillion U.S. dollars. This would be an increase of around 21 trillion U.S. dollars from 2023, when the federal debt was around 33 trillion U.S. dollars.

The federal debt of the U.S.

The federal debt, also called the national debt or public debt, is the amount of debt held by the United States government. This debt may be to other countries, or to different departments within the government itself. The public debt of the United States has increased significantly over the past 30 years, as it was around 3.2 trillion U.S. dollars in 1990 and surpassed 30 trillion dollars for the first time in 2022. When broken down per capita, the national debt amounted to about 80,885 U.S. dollars of debt per person in the United States in 2021.

The problem of the federal debt

Over the past decade, the federal debt limit in the United States has increased significantly. The U.S. debt ceiling can only be changed by an act of Congress which is then signed by the president. The raising of the ceiling has become a recurring political issue in recent years, especially during times when the Presidency and chambers of Congress are controlled by different parties.

The debt ceiling is a tool that allows the Treasury to issue bonds without congressional approval, allowing for efficiency in the way that the government pays for programs and services. It is thought to be further valuable in that it keeps federal finances in check. However, when the two parties are unable to come to an agreement on raising the debt ceiling, the government comes to a shutdown because they can no longer fund themselves. The Republican Party in particular often positions itself against raising the federal debt ceiling, characterizing themselves as the party of fiscal conservativism. However, analyses have shown that both parties have contributed to the country's debt in almost equal measures.

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.

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

United States - Federal Debt Held by the Public was 28932974.00000 Mil. of $ in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Federal Debt Held by the Public reached a record high of 28932974.00000 in January of 2025 and a record low of 274924.00000 in April of 1970. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Federal Debt Held by the Public - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July 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.

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.

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.

United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Beginning of Year data was reported at 27,087.198 USD bn in 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 25,714.526 USD bn for 2027. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Beginning of Year data is updated yearly, averaging 15,176.618 USD bn from Sep 2009 (Median) to 2028, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27,087.198 USD bn in 2028 and a record low of 5,802.851 USD bn in 2009. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Beginning of Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Congressional Budget Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F006: Federal Debt: Projection: Congressional Budget Office.