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.

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

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.

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).

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.

Government Debt in the United States increased to 36916987 USD Million in July from 36211469 USD Million in June of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Government Debt- 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.

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.

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.

United States - Gross Federal Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product was 119.00489 % of GDP in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Gross Federal Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product reached a record high of 125.98280 in January of 2020 and a record low of 31.01925 in January of 1981. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Gross Federal Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

Central government debt, total () for the United States was 114.75555 % of GDP in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Central government debt, total () for the United States reached a record high of 124.51470 in January of 2020 and a record low of 15.16585 in January of 2001. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Central government debt, total () for the United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

The value of U.S. Treasury securities held by residents of Russia amounted to ** million U.S. dollars in March 2025, marking a stark contrast to ***** billion U.S. dollars held in January 2020. The lowest over the period under consideration was recorded in November 2023 at ** million U.S. dollars. Furthermore, in March 2020, the figure plummeted to **** billion U.S. dollars, down from **** billion U.S. dollars one month prior. Russia’s holdings of U.S. treasury securities have decreased since 2014 following the Western sanctions over the annexation of Crimea and have further dropped in 2022 after more restrictions were imposed over the war in Ukraine. What are U.S. treasury holdings? U.S. treasury holdings are government debt instruments that contribute to the funding of various government projects in the country. The U.S. Department of Treasury allows individuals and organizations to invest in treasury notes, bills, and bonds, which are the main three types of securities. Just under half of the outstanding ** trillion U.S. dollars as of May 2024 were in the form of treasury notes. The notes have varying maturities and coupon payment frequencies, which are different from the maturity periods of treasury bills and bonds. Main foreign holders of U.S. treasury securities Foreign holdings of U.S. treasury debt amounted to ***** trillion U.S. dollars as of January 2024. Japan and China held the largest portions, with China possessing ***** billion U.S. dollars in U.S. securities. Additionally, other significant foreign holders included oil exporting countries and Caribbean banking centers.

United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Liability, Transactions was 1913179.00000 Mil. of $ in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Liability, Transactions reached a record high of 4316247.00000 in January of 2020 and a record low of -277271.00000 in January of 2000. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Federal Government; Debt Securities; Liability, Transactions - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Total Government Debt for General Government for Georgia was 37.37735 % of GDP in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Total Government Debt for General Government for Georgia reached a record high of 60.01868 in January of 2020 and a record low of 22.53599 in January of 2007. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Total Government Debt for General Government for Georgia - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Ukraine Government Debt Repayment: Forecast: External: Redemption data was reported at 1.780 UAH bn in Dec 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.260 UAH bn for Nov 2020. Ukraine Government Debt Repayment: Forecast: External: Redemption data is updated monthly, averaging 1.810 UAH bn from Jan 2019 (Median) to Dec 2020, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.703 UAH bn in Sep 2020 and a record low of 0.896 UAH bn in Jan 2020. Ukraine Government Debt Repayment: Forecast: External: Redemption data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ukraine – Table UA.F014: Government Debt Repayment: Forecast: Monthly.

The LAC Debt Group believes that to have sound regional policy it is important to have valid, comparable, and standardized data on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Therefore, at the core of the initiative is the development of a standardized sovereign debt database to help debt managers, policy makers, and other actors of financial markets, analyze the composition of public debt in LAC. The information presented in this database is provided by the Debt Management Offices of 26 LAC countries in response to a questionnaire specifically created to allow comparability of data. The questionnaire is intended to compile up-to-date standardized statistics to conduct cross-country comparisons over clear, objective, and homogeneous definitions of public debt.

Key information about Russia National Government Debt

• Russia National Government Debt reached 291.7 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 285.6 USD bn in the previous month.
• Russia National Government Debt data is updated monthly, available from May 2009 to Jan 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 384.2 USD bn in Jun 2022 and a record low of 86.1 USD bn in May 2009.

CEIC calculates monthly Government Debt as the sum of Public External Debt and Domestic Debt and converts it into USD. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation provides Public External Debt in USD and Domestic Debt in local currency. The Bank of Russia period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Related information about Russia National Government Debt

• In the latest reports, Russia Consolidated Fiscal Balance recorded a deficit equal to 0.6 % of its Nominal GDP in Jun 2024.
• The country's Government debt accounted for 14.6 % of its Nominal GDP in Mar 2024.
• Russia Nominal GDP reached 494.7 USD bn in Mar 2023.

General Government Gross Debt for United States was 128.15400 % of Fiscal Yr. GDP in January of 2030, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, General Government Gross Debt for United States reached a record high of 132.03200 in January of 2020 and a record low of 53.33100 in January of 2001. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for General Government Gross Debt for United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Slovenia Government Debt: Amortization: EUR: Domestic: Government Securities data was reported at 1,092,855,000.000 EUR in Mar 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 57,840,265.580 EUR for Feb 2023. Slovenia Government Debt: Amortization: EUR: Domestic: Government Securities data is updated monthly, averaging 24,105,578.800 EUR from Jan 2000 (Median) to Mar 2023, with 279 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,645,715,000.000 EUR in Jan 2020 and a record low of -18,173.000 EUR in Dec 2016. Slovenia Government Debt: Amortization: EUR: Domestic: Government Securities data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Slovenia – Table SI.F007: General Government Borrowing and Amortization of Debt: Consolidated.