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

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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