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

$19.8 Trillion

2017

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Total government debt held by public (Federal + S&L)

Total government debt held by public (Federal + S&L)

$19.2 Trillion

2019

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Total government debt as % of GDP

Total government debt as % of GDP

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Federal debt held by public as % of GDP

Federal debt held by public as % of GDP

79.11%

2019

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% of federal debt held by public that is foreign owned

% of federal debt held by public that is foreign owned

39.44%

2019

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State and local debt outstanding (municipal securities)

State and local debt outstanding (municipal securities)

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State and local debt as % of GDP

State and local debt as % of GDP

14.1%

2019

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