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.

In August 2025, the public debt of the United States was around ***** 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 **** 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.

Key information about United States Government Debt: % of GDP

• United States Government debt accounted for 124.0 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2025, compared with the ratio of 120.9 % in the previous quarter.
• US government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1969 to Sep 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 130.3 % 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 38,514.0 USD bn in Dec 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 7,621.4 USD bn in Jun 2025.

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

Graph and download economic data for Gross Federal Debt (FYGFD) from 1939 to 2023 about debt, gross, federal, and USA.

In the third quarter of 2024, household debt in the United States amounted to over 71.66 percent of its GDP. It can be generally observed that U.S. households are more indebted by the end of the year than in any other quarter. The debt of households peaked in the last quarter of 2020, reaching the highest value since 2013. Debt to GDP ratio As it can be observed here, the household debt to GDP ratio decreased overall in the recent years. The steady growth of the gross domestic product in the United States could be a factor explaining this tendency. If the volume of debt grows at a slower pace than the GDP, the debt to GDP ratio would decrease. In addition to that, the overall value of mortgage debt in the U.S., which is the most significant component of the household debt, decreased from 2012 to the third quarter of 2014, but it has rebounded since then. Public debt in the U.S. Public debt in the United States, which is the amount of money borrowed by the government to finance budget deficits, has been increasing almost every single year. Not only that, but according to that forecast it is also expected to keep increasing during the coming years. The major holders of American government debt, as of December 2023, were Federal Reserve and government accounts and foreign and international holders. The ratio of national debt to GDP of the United States was higher than that of other major economies, but lower than that of Japan. Some of the lowest debt to GDP ratios were observed in Hong Kong SAR, Kuwait, and Turkmenistan.

This graph shows the state debt per capita in the United States for the 2013 fiscal year. In 2013, the state of Alabama had a total per capita debt of ****** U.S. dollars. Average state debt per capita amounted to ****** U.S. dollars.

The national debt of the United Stated can be found here. State debt National debts, also known as public debt and government debt, are the amount of money borrowed by states to cover their budget deficits. Nearly all governments use the debt method to finance operations and projects. Government debt can be seen as an indirect debt on taxpayers.

The public debt of the United States has been rising steadily for the last decades from ******** billion U.S. dollars in 1990 to ********* billion U.S dollars in 2013.

Although the United States’ debt is significantly high, the country with the highest public debt in 2014, in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP), was Japan. Japan had an estimated debt of about ****** percent in relation to the gross domestic product, according to IMF data. Nigeria was among the countries with the lowest national debt in 2014 in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP), with an estimated level of national debt reached about ***** percent of the GDP.

Much of the U.S. public debt is held by foreign investors, debt holders like nations or institutions which lent money to the United States. About ** percent of the U.S. public debt is hold by foreign investors, while the Federal Reserve Bank holds ** percent of the U.S public debt. As of August 2014, China and Japan are the major foreign holders of U.S. treasury debt. According to the Federal Reserve and U.S. Department of the Treasury, China held ******* billion U.S. dollars, while Japan held ******* billion U.S. dollars.

Federal Debt: PDS: Marketable: Floating Rates Notes data was reported at 357.811 USD bn in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 341.811 USD bn for May 2018. Federal Debt: PDS: Marketable: Floating Rates Notes data is updated monthly, averaging 316.869 USD bn from Jan 2014 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 54 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 357.811 USD bn in Jun 2018 and a record low of 15.000 USD bn in Jan 2014. Federal Debt: PDS: Marketable: Floating Rates Notes data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F004: Federal Debt.

In 2023, the United States had the highest gross government debt of any G7 country, amounting to an estimated 33 trillion U.S. dollars. However, in terms of government debt as a share of GDP, Japan carries a far higher government debt load than the U.S.

Key information about United States External Debt: Short Term

• United States External Debt: Short Term value stood at 9,840.3 USD bn in Sep 2025, compared with 9,634.4 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• US External Debt: Short Term data is updated quarterly, available from Jun 2003 to Sep 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 9,840.3 USD bn in Sep 2025 and a record low of 2,718.8 USD bn in Jun 2003.

CEIC calculates quarterly Short Term External Debt as the sum of quarterly Short Term External Debt breakdowns for General Government, Central Bank, Deposit Taking Corporations and Other Sectors. The U.S. Department of the Treasury provides Short Term External Debt in USD based on BPM6. Short Term External Debt prior to Q3 2014 is based on BPM5.


Related information about United States External Debt: Short Term

• In the latest reports of US, Current Account recorded a deficit of 226.4 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 115.1 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• US Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 116.2 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 486.8 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 7,621.4 USD bn in Jun 2025.

Key information about United States External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP

• United States External Debt: Short Term accounted for 29.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2024, compared with the ratio of 29.5 % in the previous year.
• US External Debt: Short Term: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from 2003 to 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 39.4 % in 2007 and a record low of 25.0 % in 2003.

CEIC calculates Short Term External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Short Term External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. Short Term External Debt is calculated as the sum of Short Term External Debt breakdowns for General Government, Central Bank, Deposit Taking Corporations and Other Sectors. The U.S. Department of the Treasury provides Short Term External Debt in USD based on BPM6. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides Nominal GDP in USD. Short Term External Debt prior to 2014 is based on BPM5.


Related information about United States External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of US, Current Account recorded a deficit of 226.4 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 115.1 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• US Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 116.2 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 486.8 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• US External Debt: Short Term value stood at 9,840.3 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 7,621.4 USD bn in Jun 2025.

Key information about United States External Debt: % of GDP

• United States External Debt accounted for 94.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2024, compared with the ratio of 93.4 % in the previous year.
• US External Debt: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2003 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 99.9 % in Dec 2020 and a record low of 60.6 % in Dec 2003.

CEIC calculates External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. The U.S. Department of the Treasury provides External Debt in USD based on BPM6. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides Nominal GDP in USD. External Debt prior to 2014 is based on BPM5.


Related information about United States External Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of US, Current Account recorded a deficit of 226.4 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 115.1 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• US Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 116.2 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 486.8 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• The country's External Debt reached 29,127,909.0 in Sep 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 7,621.4 USD bn in Jun 2025.

United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Average Interest Rate data was reported at 3.448 % in 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.442 % for 2027. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Average Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.289 % from Sep 2014 (Median) to 2028, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.531 % in 2023 and a record low of 1.654 % in 2015. United States CBO Projection: Federal Debt Held by Public: Average Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Congressional Budget Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F006: Federal Debt: Projection: Congressional Budget Office.

This statistic shows the national debt of Brazil from 2020 to 2023 in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP), with projections up until 2030. The figures refer to the whole country and include the debts of the state, the communities, the municipalities and the social insurances. In 2023, the national debt of Brazil amounted to approximately 84 percent of the GDP. Brazil's economy Brazil has one of the largest economies in the world by gross domestic product ) and Purchasing Power Parity. In 2014, the Brazil's gross domestic product amounted to around 2.24 trillion U.S. dollars. However, it is estimated that by 2030, Brazil will have the fourth highest gross domestic product in the world. In 2014, the United States reported the largest gross domestic product worldwide. However, the estimated national debt of the United States in 2014 was over 105 percent of the gross domestic product, while the estimated national debt of Brazil was approximately 66 percent the same year. Even though the national debt of Brazil has slightly decreased over the last decade, it still remains relatively high. A country's national debt refers to the whole country and includes the debts of the state, the communities, the municipalities and the social insurances. In Brazil, the high national debt is also due to country's trade deficit. In 2013, Brazil’s trade deficit amounted to an estimated 3.3 percent of the GDP, adding up to approximately 8.3 billion U.S. dollars in total.

Puerto Rico (US) government debt to gdp reached 17.96% in 2025, down from 54.55% peak in 2014. Ranked 170th globally. Full data since 2006.

The national debt of Kazakhstan was estimated at 72.68 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Between 2002 and 2024, the national debt rose by 71.23 billion U.S. dollars, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The national debt will steadily rise by 125.26 billion U.S. dollars over the period from 2024 to 2030, reflecting a clear upward trend.

Government Debt in Canada increased to 1223.62 CAD Billion in 2024 from 1173.01 CAD Billion in 2023. This dataset provides - Canada Government Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: Balance data was reported at 0.025 USD bn in Jan 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.025 USD bn for Dec 2017. Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: Balance data is updated monthly, averaging 133.177 USD bn from Jul 1974 (Median) to Jan 2018, with 487 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,910.283 USD bn in Feb 2010 and a record low of 0.000 USD bn in Apr 2013. Federal Debt: Statutory Limit: Balance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F004: Federal Debt. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). By Act of February 4, 2013, Public Law 113-3 as well as the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, Public Law 113-46 the Statutory Debt Limit has been suspended for the periods of Feb-13 to Apr-13 and Oct-13 to Jan-14. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). By the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74, the Statutory Debt Limit has been suspended through March 15, 2017. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). By the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017, Public Law 115-56, the Statutory Debt Limit was suspended through December 8, 2017. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). By the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Bipartisan Budget Act, 2018, Public law 115-119, the Statutory Debt Limit was suspended through March 1, 2019.

The statistic shows the national debt of Japan from 2020 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. The amount of Japan's national debt in 2024 amounted to about 1,436.5 trillion yen. In a ranking of debt to GDP per country, Japan is thus currently ranked first. Japan's economic power With one of the largest gross domestic products (GDP), Japan is among the largest economies in the world. However, ever since the global financial crisis, Japan's GDP - like many others - has been slightly unstable; Japan even reported a negative GDP growth in comparison to the previous year in 2011 and in 2014. Still, it is estimated that gross domestic product in Japan will continue to thrive over the next decade. One indicator is Japan's inflation rate: Despite the aforementioned economic slumps, Japan has managed to maintain one of the lowest inflation rates in the world, and it also reduced its unemployment rate. Between 2010 and 2013, the unemployment rate in Japan decreased by approximately one percent, and it is expected to drop even lower over the next years. Recently, Japan has been reporting a trade deficit, meaning the value of its imports exceeds the value of its exports. Most of these imports have come from China and the United States. The trade deficit is one of the causes for in an increase of the national debt. It is estimated that the national debt in relation to the GDP will increase further until 2020.

United States Total State & Local Government: Debt Outstanding: Short Term data was reported at 35,187,874.000 USD th in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 34,245,302.000 USD th for 2014. United States Total State & Local Government: Debt Outstanding: Short Term data is updated yearly, averaging 15,912,651.000 USD th from Jun 1902 (Median) to 2015, with 73 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 45,742,933.000 USD th in 2008 and a record low of 100,000.000 USD th in 1902. United States Total State & Local Government: Debt Outstanding: Short Term data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F008: Debt Outstanding: State and Local Government: By State.