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.

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.

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.

The statistic shows the national debt of the United States from 2020 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. The amount of the debt of the United States amounted to around 35.25 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. National debt of the United States National debt in the United States is a topic of much debate and controversy, primarily due to large amounts of unnecessary spending. Despite the fact that the United States had the highest gross domestic product (GDP) in the world in 2016, along with being one of the most developed powerhouses in the world, the country suffers in many economical aspects. When analyzing the country’s imports and exports, the United States has recorded a trade deficit for more than a decade as of 2015, meaning that its imports exceeded its exports every year. However, despite being significantly affected by the world economic crisis in 2008, the country’s trade balance noticeably improved in 2009, almost halving the country’s total trade deficit. An economical aspect that did not improve during the world economic crisis was the country’s unemployment rate. The number of unemployed in the United States increased greatly in 2009 and continued to rise in 2010, however finally stabilized in the following years and has since declined yearly. When considering the total population of the United States, which amounted to roughly 322 million in 2015, a large percentage of citizens, who are capable of work, have been left without a job for roughly 7 years.

CBO Projection: Fed Debt Held by Public: Less Fin'l Assets: % of GDP data was reported at 88.649 USD bn in 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 86.808 USD bn for 2027. CBO Projection: Fed Debt Held by Public: Less Fin'l Assets: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 70.889 USD bn from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2028, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 88.649 USD bn in 2028 and a record low of 54.538 USD bn in 2010. CBO Projection: Fed Debt Held by Public: Less Fin'l Assets: % of GDP 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.

CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Less Financial Assets data was reported at 26,420.082 USD bn in 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 24,894.037 USD bn for 2027. CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Less Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 14,982.804 USD bn from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2028, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26,420.082 USD bn in 2028 and a record low of 7,959.539 USD bn in 2010. CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Less Financial Assets 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.

The U.S. debt held by the public amounted to 24.24 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023, which was about 97.3 percent of the U.S. GDP. The forecast predicts an increase in public debt up to 48.3 trillion U.S. dollars in 2034, which would be about 116 percent of the U.S. GDP. The actual total debt accrued by the U.S. annually can be accessed here.

Graph and download economic data for Projection of General government gross debt for United States from 2025 to 2030 about projection, gross, debt, government, and USA.

Government Debt in the United States decreased to 36211469 USD Million in June from 36215818 USD Million in May of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Government Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Change: Deficit data was reported at 1,526.045 USD bn in 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,315.833 USD bn for 2027. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Change: Deficit data is updated yearly, averaging 1,156.705 USD bn from Sep 2009 (Median) to 2028, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,526.045 USD bn in 2028 and a record low of 425.812 USD bn in 2015. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Change: Deficit 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.

The statistic shows the national debt of the United States from 2019 to 2022 in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP), with projections up until 2029. In 2022, the national debt of the United States was at around 120.03 percent of the gross domestic product. See the US GDP for further information. US finances There has been a dramatic increase in the public debt of the United States since 1990, although the month-to-month change has been quite stable over the last few months. Public debt is defined as the amount of money borrowed by a country to cover budget deficits. A ranking of individual state debt in the United States shows that California is leading by a clear margin, with more than double the amount of runner-up New York. Vermont, North Dakota and South Dakota are the states with the lowest amount of debt. Even before the recession of 2008, the national debt of the United States had been increasing steadily and excessively, and it is predicted to rise even further. Budget cuts and fewer job opportunities as a result of the crisis are taking their toll on the American economy, which is still recovering. Trade figures as well as unemployment are still below average. Subsequently, the national debt and the national debt of the United States per capita have more or less quadrupled since the 1990s. Interestingly, the United States is not even among the top ten of countries with the highest public debt in relation to gross domestic product in international comparison. Japan, Greece and Italy – among others – report far higher figures than the United States.

United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Change data was reported at 1,583.701 USD bn in 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,372.672 USD bn for 2027. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Change data is updated yearly, averaging 1,180.422 USD bn from Sep 2009 (Median) to 2028, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,583.701 USD bn in 2028 and a record low of 395.524 USD bn in 2015. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Change 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.

Public debt in the United States amounted to about 26.2 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. The forecast predicts that publicly held debt will increase to about 45.7 trillion U.S. dollars by 2034.

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.

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 CBO Projection: Long Term: Federal Debt Held by Public: % of GDP data was reported at 152.000 % in 2048. This records an increase from the previous number of 148.000 % for 2047. United States CBO Projection: Long Term: Federal Debt Held by Public: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 97.000 % from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2048, with 39 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 152.000 % in 2048 and a record low of 62.000 % in 2010. United States CBO Projection: Long Term: Federal Debt Held by Public: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Congressional Budget Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F006: Federal Debt: Projection: Congressional Budget Office.

Abstract (en): When the government runs a deficit, it can borrow from the public -- that is, it can create debt. Conversely, when the government runs a surplus, it can retire that debt. For the past three years, the federal government has recorded budget surpluses, and both the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Congressional Budget Office project that these surpluses will increase for at least the next decade. If these projections prove to be accurate, the $3.5 trillion of publicly held federal debt could be eliminated by around 2010. This article, which was written prior to the updated estimates published in January 2001, assesses the likelihood that these projected surpluses will materialize, and consequently eliminate the public debt, by comparing previous budget projections with actual outcomes. The authors show that the long-term budget projections have not provided a useful indicator of actual experience. Principally, these errors occur because of changes in macroeconomic conditions or unforeseen legislative actions, which both result in unanticipated increases or decreases in revenues or outlays. Not surprisingly, the projections have proven to be less reliable the longer the projection horizon. Moreover, over the period of available data, the projections have been biased upward, i.e., the actual deficits have been larger than projected. Accordingly, the authors suggest that prospects for eliminating the public debt may be overstated. (1) One file was submitted, 0103kkd.xls. The file contains data and calculations. (2) These data are part of ICPSR's Publication-Related Archive and are distributed exactly as they arrived from the data depositor. ICPSR has not checked or processed this material. Users should consult the investigators if further information is desired.

Projection of General government gross debt for United States was 128.15400 % of GDP in January of 2030, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Projection of General government gross debt for United States reached a record high of 132.62800 in January of 2021 and a record low of 105.77300 in January of 2018. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Projection of General government gross debt for United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

The statistic shows the national debt of France from 2019 to 2022, with projections up until 2029. In 2022, the national debt of France amounted to around 3.19 trillion U.S. dollars. For comparison, the Greek debt amounted to approximately 392.27 billion euros that same year. French national debt and developments in taxationFrance currently has one of the highest national debt levels of any of the world’s nations. Debt in the European Union’s second-largest economy is currently at around 97 percent of GDP. The cost of interest on the country’s debt alone comes in at over 1,600 euros per second; every man, woman, and child in France, of which there are 65.3 million in total, takes a share of just under 28 thousand euros of the debt.On 6th May 2012, the incumbent French President was defeated by François Hollande, leader of the French Socialist Party. The new President vowed to develop and change the tax system of France, announcing wide-ranging economic policies in a bid to balance the nation’s budget and right what he considered to be social wrongs. He pledged and supported the separation of lending and investment banks, as well as proposing sweeping changes to the French tax system. The introduction of the measure of capping tax loopholes at a maximum of ten thousand euros per year and questioning the solidarity tax on wealth, the annual direct wealth tax on those with assets above 1.3 million, were also part of Hollande’s proposals. The President has also signaled his intention to implement an income tax rate of 75 percent on revenue earned above one million euros per year. He stated the allocation of the revenue from this tax would be used to develop the deprived suburbs and to balance the nation's budget by 2017. France is a country brimming with big business and millionaires. The nation is home to the most millionaires in Europe; 2.6 million in total.

Italy recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 135.30 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Italy Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.