Data • By Topic • Government Finances

Debt

The national debt is the grand total of money the government owes, either to investors or to itself.

Obligations and National Debt

Debt ceiling

$31.38 trillion

2021

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Total federal, state, and local government debt held by public

Total federal, state, and local government debt held by public

Total federal, state, and local government debt held by public

$18.74 trillion

2019

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Total government debt as percent of GDP

Total government debt as percent of GDP

Total government debt as percent of GDP

110.86%

2020

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Federal debt held by public as percent of GDP

Federal debt held by public as percent of GDP

Federal debt held by public as percent of GDP

97.7%

2021

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Percent of federal debt held by public that is foreign-owned

Percent of federal debt held by public that is foreign-owned

Percent of federal debt held by public that is foreign-owned

40.28%

2019

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State and local debt in municipal securities

State and local debt in municipal securities

State and local debt in municipal securities

$3.01 trillion

2019

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State and local debt as percent of GDP

State and local debt as percent of GDP

State and local debt as percent of GDP

13.98%

2019

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