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.

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.

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

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.

Private Debt to GDP in the United States decreased to 142 percent in 2024 from 147.50 percent in 2023. United States Private Debt to GDP - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

Government Debt in Romania increased to 1125692.20 RON Million in March from 1118945.20 RON Million in February of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Romania Central Government Debt - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

India recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 81.59 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2023. This dataset provides - India Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Japan: Government debt as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 227.55 percent, a decline from 236.58 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 61.85 percent, based on data from 137 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 2013 to 2023 is 225.54 percent. The minimum value, 209.86 percent, was reached in 2013 while the maximum of 246.71 percent was recorded in 2020.

This table contains 29 series, with data for years 2009 - 2019 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 item: Canada) Central government debt (29 items: A. Federal debt (accumulated deficit), (B - E); B. Net debt, (C - D); C. Liabilities, gross debt; Accounts payable and accrued liabilities; ...).

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by the Public as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (FYGFGDQ188S) from Q1 1970 to Q1 2025 about public, debt, federal, GDP, and USA.

This table contains data on government debt. The debt is divided into different debt securities. Of each debt instrument (type of financial instrument) the share of the various holders (money-givers) is indicated. The debt is presented in nominal value (the original amount of debt) and in market value (the value at which the debt can be traded in the relevant period). When determining the sovereign debt according to EMU definitions, the nominal value is used, in the National Accounts, the market value.

The data in this table have been consolidated, i.e. the elimination of flows between them. As a result, the debts of the subsectors do not add up to the total government debt. Debts of, for example, the empire to the social insurers are part of the government’s debts. For the debt of the total government, they do not count, after all, they are debts that the government has to the government.

The terms used are in line with the National Accounts. The National Accounts are based on the international definitions of the European System of Accounts (ESA 1995). To increase the accessibility of the table, in some cases more common descriptions are used instead of the terms from the National Accounts. The relevant National Accounts term is then mentioned in the notes. The data presented corresponds to the publications on the National Accounts and the EMU publications.

Data available from: Annual figures from 1990 to 2013, quarterly figures from 2005 to 2013.

Status of the figures: The figures in this table since 1990 are final. The most recent years have a (further) provisional character. As this table has been discontinued, the data will no longer be definitive.

Changes as of 25 June 2014: None, this table has been discontinued.

When are new figures coming? No longer applicable. This table is followed by Government; debt to debt securities and lender, nominal and market value. See paragraph 3.

The value of global debt increased from *** trillion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2022 to *** trillion U.S. dollars in the same quarter of 2024. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, global debt has skyrocketed. The value of global debt in Q1 2024 was more than three times the value of the global GDP.

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.

Australia recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 43.80 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Australia Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Peru: Government debt as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 32.95 percent, a decline from 33.88 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 61.85 percent, based on data from 137 countries. Historically, the average for Peru from 1999 to 2023 is 32.51 percent. The minimum value, 19.15 percent, was reached in 2013 while the maximum of 51.46 percent was recorded in 1999.

Grenada: Government debt as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2022 is 64.75 percent, a decline from 71.4 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 59.99 percent, based on data from 174 countries. Historically, the average for Grenada from 2000 to 2022 is 82.21 percent. The minimum value, 49.54 percent, was reached in 2000 while the maximum of 103.67 percent was recorded in 2013.

This table shows the development of the government balance and debt (also referred to as EMU balance and EMU debt respectively) in the Netherlands. EMU stands for Economic and Monetary Union. This table provides annual and quarterly estimates of the government, broken down by contribution by government sub-sector. This table also shows the reconciliation between the government balance and changes in nominal government debt. The government balance and debt are the main indicators of the health of public finances within the European Union. The Maastricht Treaty and the resulting Growth and Stability Pact stipulate that member states must report data on their government's balance and debt to the European Commission every six months. It stipulates that a deficit may not exceed 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and debt may not exceed 60 percent of GDP. If the standards are exceeded and no special circumstances are the basis for this, the European Commission can impose sanctions. The figures are consistent with the National Accounts system. Data available from: Annual figures from 1990 to 2013, quarterly figures from 2005 to 2013. Status of the figures: The figures in this table from 1990 onwards are final. The most recent years still have a (further) provisional character. Since this table has been discontinued, the data is no longer finalized. Changes as of June 25, 2014: None, this table has been discontinued. When will new numbers come out? Not applicable anymore. This table is followed by Government; Government balance and government debt. See section 3.

Greece recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 153.60 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Greece Government Debt to GDP - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Panama: Government debt as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 56.44 percent, a decline from 58.04 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 61.85 percent, based on data from 137 countries. Historically, the average for Panama from 1997 to 2023 is 52.62 percent. The minimum value, 34.39 percent, was reached in 2013 while the maximum of 71.15 percent was recorded in 2001.

Rwanda recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 67.20 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Rwanda Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.