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.
Summarizes the U.S. government's total outstanding debt at the end of each fiscal year from 1789 to the current year.
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.
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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.
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Moldova Gross Central Government Debt data was reported at 123,622.530 MDL mn in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 122,196.130 MDL mn for Jan 2025. Moldova Gross Central Government Debt data is updated monthly, averaging 34,710.410 MDL mn from Jan 2007 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 218 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 123,622.530 MDL mn in Feb 2025 and a record low of 11,127.700 MDL mn in Aug 2008. Moldova Gross Central Government Debt data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Moldova – Table MD.F005: Gross Central Government Debt.
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Moldova Gross Central Government Debt: External data was reported at 78,324.000 MDL mn in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 77,867.820 MDL mn for Jan 2025. Moldova Gross Central Government Debt: External data is updated monthly, averaging 26,782.995 MDL mn from Jan 2007 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 218 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 78,324.000 MDL mn in Feb 2025 and a record low of 7,404.000 MDL mn in Aug 2008. Moldova Gross Central Government Debt: External data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Moldova – Table MD.F005: Gross Central Government Debt.
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Key information about Mexico Government Debt: % of GDP
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Denmark Central Government Debt: Gross: Domestic data was reported at 580.376 DKK bn in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 579.100 DKK bn for Jan 2025. Denmark Central Government Debt: Gross: Domestic data is updated monthly, averaging 641.500 DKK bn from Dec 1990 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 411 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 749.244 DKK bn in Aug 2021 and a record low of 350.571 DKK bn in Aug 2008. Denmark Central Government Debt: Gross: Domestic data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Danmarks Nationalbank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Denmark – Table DK.F013: ESA 1995: Central Government Debt. From January 2009, the total of domestic gross debt does not add up to the sum of the types of domestic gross debt as the Fisher-ies Bank's bonds cannot be distributed.
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Moldova Gross Central Government Debt: External: Long term data was reported at 26,079.770 MDL mn in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26,162.730 MDL mn for Sep 2018. Moldova Gross Central Government Debt: External: Long term data is updated monthly, averaging 13,615.950 MDL mn from Jan 2007 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 142 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28,716.420 MDL mn in Feb 2017 and a record low of 7,404.000 MDL mn in Aug 2008. Moldova Gross Central Government Debt: External: Long term data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Moldova. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Moldova – Table MD.F005: Gross Central Government Debt.
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From October 19 to 27, 2009, a World Bank team in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat undertook a debt management performance assessment of the Government of the Republic of Maldives (GRM). The objective was to undertake a comprehensive assessment of debt management functions using the Debt Management Performance Assessment tool (DeMPA), version of November 2008. As part of the assessment, the team met relevant officials dealing with public debt management in Maldives from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT), the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), the Attorney General, the Auditor General's office, the National Disaster Management Centre, Capital Markets Development Authority, the State Bank of India and the Bank of Maldives. The assessment for Maldives was timely. The current situation shows moderately high government debt levels (around 55 percent of GDP) with sustainability indicators reflecting vulnerabilities (at current trajectory of primary deficit, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) article four report estimated debt levels would reach 75 percent of GDP by 2013). The recently concluded Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) findings highlighted areas for improvement relating to budget execution and credibility, audit and legislative oversight, cash management and the Treasury Single Account (TSA), and monitoring and managing fiscal risks.
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Indonesia External Debt: Government: by Program data was reported at 27.150 USD bn in May 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 27.254 USD bn for Apr 2019. Indonesia External Debt: Government: by Program data is updated monthly, averaging 21.805 USD bn from Jan 2008 (Median) to May 2019, with 137 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.146 USD bn in Jan 2019 and a record low of 12.987 USD bn in Aug 2008. Indonesia External Debt: Government: by Program data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Directorate General of Budget Financing and Risk Management. The data is categorized under Indonesia Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table ID.FA014: External Debt: by Program and Project.
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Outstanding Domestic Private Debt Securities to GDP for United States was 91.86% in January of 2011, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Outstanding Domestic Private Debt Securities to GDP for United States reached a record high of 119.95 in January of 2008 and a record low of 68.19 in January of 1990. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Outstanding Domestic Private Debt Securities to GDP for United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.
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Brazil PSD: % of GDP: GG: General Government Gross Debt: Domestic: State Governments Bank Debt data was reported at 2.186 % in Apr 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.188 % for Mar 2019. Brazil PSD: % of GDP: GG: General Government Gross Debt: Domestic: State Governments Bank Debt data is updated monthly, averaging 0.741 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 149 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.206 % in Aug 2018 and a record low of 0.206 % in Aug 2008. Brazil PSD: % of GDP: GG: General Government Gross Debt: Domestic: State Governments Bank Debt data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table BR.FB008: Public Sector Debt: % of Nominal GDP.
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Graph and download economic data for Personal Saving Rate (PSAVERT) from Jan 1959 to May 2025 about savings, personal, rate, and USA.
This table represents the amount Treasury has in short-term cash investments. Deposits and withdrawals of short-term cash investments are also represented in the Deposits and Withdrawals of Operating Cash table. This program was suspended indefinitely in 2008. All figures are rounded to the nearest million. As of February 14, 2023, Table V Short Term Cash Investments will no longer be updated and removed from the published report. The historical data will remain available.
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Brazil Federal Public Debt: Outstanding: Domestic: National Treasury: Agrarian Debt Securities data was reported at 1.371 BRL bn in Apr 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.390 BRL bn for Mar 2019. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Outstanding: Domestic: National Treasury: Agrarian Debt Securities data is updated monthly, averaging 3.557 BRL bn from Jan 2006 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 160 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.915 BRL bn in Aug 2008 and a record low of 1.371 BRL bn in Apr 2019. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Outstanding: Domestic: National Treasury: Agrarian Debt Securities data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Treasury Secretariat. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table BR.FC019: Federal Public Debt: Held by the Public and Central Bank: Outstanding. This data is part of the Monthly Report of Federal Public Debt from National Treasury. Displays information about emissions, redemptions, stock, maturity profile and average cost to the Federal Public Debt, including both the internal and external debts, responsibility of the National Treasury market. Agrarian Debt Securities(TDA)
As of January 2025, the largest all-time bankruptcy in the United States remained Lehman Brothers. The New York-based investment bank had assets worth 691 billion U.S. dollars when it filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008. This event was one of the major points in the timeline of the Great Recession, as it was the first time a bank of its size had failed and had a domino effect on the global banking sector, as well as wiping almost five percent of the S&P 500 in one day. Bank failures in the U.S. In March 2023, for the first time since 2021, two banks collapsed in the United States. Both bank failures made the list of largest bankruptcies in terms of total assets lost: The failure of Silicon Valley Bank amounted to roughly 209 billion U.S. dollars worth of assets lost, while Signature Bank had approximately 110.4 billion U.S. dollars when it collapsed. These failures mark the second- and the third-largest bank failures in the U.S. since 2001. Unprofitable banks in the U.S. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank painted an alarming picture of the U.S. banking industry. In reality, however, the state of the industry was much better in 2022 than in earlier periods of economic downturns. The share of unprofitable banks, for instance, was 3.4 percent in 2022, which was an increase compared to 2021, but remained well below the share of unprofitable banks in 2020, let alone during the global financial crisis in 2008. The share of unprofitable banks in the U.S. peaked in 2009, when almost 30 percent of all FDIC-insured commercial banks and savings institutions were unprofitable.
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Federal Public Debt: Maturities: Up to 12 Months data was reported at 617.359 BRL bn in Apr 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 642.847 BRL bn for Mar 2019. Federal Public Debt: Maturities: Up to 12 Months data is updated monthly, averaging 485.261 BRL bn from Nov 2006 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 150 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 759.910 BRL bn in Jun 2018 and a record low of 309.304 BRL bn in Aug 2008. Federal Public Debt: Maturities: Up to 12 Months data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Treasury Secretariat. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table BR.FC005: Federal Public Debt: Held by the Public: by Maturities. This data is part of the Monthly Report of Federal Public Debt from National Treasury. Displays information about emissions, redemptions, stock, maturity profile and average cost to the Federal Public Debt, including both the internal and external debts, responsibility of the National Treasury market.
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.