Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt Held by the Public (FYGFDPUN) from Q1 1970 to Q4 2024 about public, debt, federal, and USA.

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).

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.

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.

In 2023, the gross federal debt in the United States amounted to around 93,500 U.S. dollars per capita. This is a moderate increase from the previous year, when the per capita national debt amounted to about 92,528 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 Held by Private Investors (FDHBPIN) from Q1 1970 to Q4 2024 about debt, federal, private, and USA.

United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: as % of GDP data was reported at 97.200 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 95.800 % for 2022. United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: as % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 43.600 % from Sep 1940 (Median) to 2023, with 84 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 106.100 % in 1946 and a record low of 23.200 % in 1974. United States Gross Federal Debt: Held by the Public: as % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Management and Budget. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F071: Federal Debt: Annual.

PS: Debt Held by the Public data was reported at 28,924.758 USD bn in 24 Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28,927.403 USD bn for 21 Mar 2025. PS: Debt Held by the Public data is updated daily, averaging 14,831.807 USD bn from Oct 2005 (Median) to 24 Mar 2025, with 4891 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28,937.109 USD bn in 14 Mar 2025 and a record low of 8,942.463 USD bn in 10 Sep 2010. PS: Debt Held by the Public data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F074: Public Debt Transactions.

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 Federal Debt Held by Foreign and International Investors as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (HBFIGDQ188S) from Q1 1970 to Q4 2024 about foreign, debt, federal, GDP, and USA.

Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Maturities: Other: 3 to 4 years data was reported at 0.000 BRL bn in Apr 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 BRL bn for Mar 2019. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Maturities: Other: 3 to 4 years data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 BRL bn from Dec 1999 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 233 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.045 BRL bn in Dec 2002 and a record low of 0.000 BRL bn in Apr 2019. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Maturities: Other: 3 to 4 years 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.FC011: Federal Public Debt: Held by the Public: Domestic: by Maturities: Indexing Factor. 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.

The Gift Contributions to Reduce Debt Held by the Public dataset provides the monthly total for gift contributions received by the U.S. Treasury that were donated to reduce the public debt. These donations can include money, outstanding government obligations (such as savings bonds) and property that is sold for cash. Gifts may be classified as inter vivos (from a living person) or testamentary bequests (from a person's will).

Brazil Federal Debt Held by Public: Indexed: Selic Rate data was reported at 2,892.802 BRL bn in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,754.676 BRL bn for Dec 2024. Brazil Federal Debt Held by Public: Indexed: Selic Rate data is updated monthly, averaging 499.275 BRL bn from Dec 1999 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 302 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,892.802 BRL bn in Jan 2025 and a record low of 99.064 BRL bn in Mar 2015. Brazil Federal Debt Held by Public: Indexed: Selic Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.FB036: Federal Securities Issued: by Indexing Factor. Sistema Especial de Liquidação e Custodia (SELIC)

The Monthly Statement of the Public Debt (MSPD) details the Treasury's outstanding debts and the statutory debt limit. Debt is categorized by whether it is marketable or non-marketable and whether it is debt held by the public or debt held by government agencies. All amounts are reported in millions of U.S. dollars. Data is published on the fourth business day of each month, detailing the debt as of the end of the previous month.

United States Federal Debt: PDS: Debt Held by the Public data was reported at 15,843.329 USD bn in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 15,761.155 USD bn for Sep 2018. United States Federal Debt: PDS: Debt Held by the Public data is updated monthly, averaging 7,735.939 USD bn from Jan 2001 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 214 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,843.329 USD bn in Oct 2018 and a record low of 3,266.222 USD bn in Jul 2001. United States Federal Debt: PDS: Debt Held by the Public data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.F004: Federal Debt.

At the end of 2023, depository institutions owned around 4.86 percent of the total U.S. debt. Depository institutions includes U.S. chartered depository institutions, foreign banking offices in the United States, banks in U.S. affiliated areas, credit unions, and bank holding companies.

The total debt accrued by the U.S. annually can be accessed here.

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.

United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public was 26235.60000 Bil. of $ in September of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public reached a record high of 26235.60000 in September of 2023 and a record low of 41.40000 in June of 1939. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Gross Federal Debt Held by the Public - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Other data was reported at 0.000 BRL bn in Apr 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 BRL bn for Mar 2019. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Other data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 BRL bn from Dec 1999 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 233 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.783 BRL bn in Jan 2000 and a record low of 0.000 BRL bn in Apr 2019. Brazil Federal Public Debt: Domestic: Other 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.FC006: Federal Public Debt: Held by the Public: Domestic. 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.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Debt: Total Public Debt (GFDEBTN) from Q1 1966 to Q4 2024 about public, debt, federal, government, and USA.