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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt: Total Public Debt (GFDEBTN) from Q1 1966 to Q1 2025 about public, debt, federal, government, and USA.

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

This table shows the evolution of the balance and debt of the government (also known as EMU balance or EMU debt) The Netherlands. This table gives the annual estimates of the government, broken down by contribution per subsector of the government. The government debt is specified by debt title: currency, short-term securities, bonds, short-term loans, long-term securities loans.

The government balance and public debt are within the European Union the key indicators for the health of public finances. In the Maastricht Treaty and the resulting growth and Stability pact stipulates that every six months Member States have the data on the balance and debt of their government must report to the The European Commission. It is stated that a deficit does not exceed 3 percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) and debt no more than 60 % of GDP. If the standards are exceeded and there are no particular circumstances behind this, The European Commission imposes sanctions. The figures are in line with the system of National Accounts.

Data available from: 1990 Frequency: discontinued

Status of the figures The figures since 1990 are final. The three most recent years have another (further) provisional character.

Changes as of 31 March 2011: Preliminary figures for 2010 are included. The EMU balance and debt table has been adjusted nationally. The way in which the contribution to the debt per subsector of the general government was calculated, it’s changed. This has been done to align with Eurostat’s methodology handles it. This reflects better the contribution per subsector to the public debt. This changes the amounts per subsector. The consolidated public debt does not change. In the case of consolidated debt, debts and receivables shall be counted between governments do not participate in the debt of the general government. For the subsectors of the general government, in this table, the contribution to the consolidated public debt is represented. The contribution of a subsector total government debt equals all debts of this subsector minus the claims on the other levels of government. As a result, the debt figures presented in this publication count the subsectors up to the debt of the general government as a whole. In the old calculation of the contribution per subsector, another is the starting point for consolidation is used. There was only the blame. non-public sectors contribute to the contribution of each subsector. As a result, for example, the debt contribution of the social insurance companies misappraised. In 2009 the debt contribution of the social insurance institutions by this method and that of the central government. Other years in reverse. This is because the borrowing social insurance institutions from the State. The Empire must do this. borrow money from other sectors. In the old set-up, this debt was this is the government’s debt contribution. In the new set-up as a debt contribution of the social insurance institutions. In addition to the method change for the debt contribution, the terms EMU balance are and -debt replaced by the terms government balance and debt.

When are new figures coming? Not applicable.

Mexico recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 49.70 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Mexico Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The national debt of Ireland was estimated at approximately 236.50 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Between 1990 and 2024, the national debt rose by around 199.63 billion U.S. dollars, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The national debt is expected to drop by about 31.77 billion U.S. dollars between 2024 and 2030, showing a continuous downward movement throughout the period.

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.

The national debt of Switzerland was approximately 355.41 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Between 1990 and 2024, the national debt rose by around 214.22 billion U.S. dollars, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The national debt is expected to drop by about 10.42 billion U.S. dollars between 2024 and 2030, showing a continuous downward movement throughout the period.

Portugal recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 94.90 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Portugal Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Central government debt, total (% of GDP) for Japan (DEBTTLJPA188A) from 1990 to 2022 about Japan, debt, government, and GDP.

Key information about United States Government Debt: % of GDP

• United States Government debt accounted for 124.0 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 123.1 % in the previous quarter.
• US government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1969 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 130.4 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 31.8 % in Sep 1974.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service provides Government Debt in USD. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides Nominal GDP in USD. Government Debt covers Central Government only.


Related information about United States Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, US National Government Debt reached 36,220.2 USD bn in Jan 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 6,632.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Key information about Switzerland National Government Debt

• Switzerland National Government Debt reached 267.5 USD bn in Dec 2022, compared with 256.9 USD bn in the previous year.
• Switzerland National Government Debt data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1990 to Dec 2022.
• The data reached an all-time high of 267.5 USD bn in Dec 2022 and a record low of 82.4 USD bn in Dec 1990.

CEIC converts annual Government Debt into USD. Federal Finance Administration provides Government Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Related information about Switzerland National Government Debt

• In the latest reports, Switzerland Consolidated Fiscal Balance recorded a deficit equal to 0.3 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2021.
• The country's Government debt accounted for 25.1 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2026.
• Switzerland Nominal GDP reached 213.3 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Central government debt, total (% of GDP) for OECD Members (GCDODTOTLGDZSOED) from 1990 to 2022 about OECD Economies, debt, government, and GDP.

Ghana recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 70.50 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Ghana Government Debt to GDP - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

South Korea recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 46.80 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Ecuador recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 50.60 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Ecuador Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about United Kingdom Government Debt: % of GDP

• United Kingdom Government debt accounted for 101.1 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 100.9 % in the previous quarter.
• UK government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1966 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 107.5 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 28.3 % in Dec 1990.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. The Office of National Statistics provides Government Debt in local currency. The Office for National Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency.


Related information about United Kingdom Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, UK National Government Debt reached 3,810.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 786.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Central government debt, total (% of GDP) for Cyprus (DEBTTLCYA188A) from 1990 to 1994 about Cyprus, debt, government, and GDP.