Central government debt, total in United States
United States: Central government debt, total was 33.92 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Central government debt, total in United States, 1989–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, central government debt, total in United States stood at 33.92 trillion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.3% on the previous year and up 101.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government debt, total in United States peaked at 33.92 trillion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.21 trillion current LCU, in 1989.
That places United States 9th out of 83 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.21 trillion current LCU | 2.21 trillion current LCU | 2.21 trillion current LCU | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.34 trillion current LCU | 2.44 trillion current LCU | 3.78 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.19 trillion current LCU | 3.41 trillion current LCU | 11.01 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.21 trillion current LCU | 12.81 trillion current LCU | 21.59 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.97 trillion current LCU | 26.61 trillion current LCU | 33.92 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More public sector data for United States
- Arms imports 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Tax revenue 10.8% (2024)
- Taxes on income, profits and capital gains 56.3% (2024)
- Taxes on goods and services 2.1% (2024)
- Net investment in nonfinancial assets 1.5% (2024)
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) -7.2% (2024)
- Interest payments 20.3% (2024)
- Grants and other revenue 2.9% (2024)
- Interest payments 12.9% (2023)
- Other taxes 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government debt, total in United States?
- Central government debt, total in United States was 33.92 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest central government debt, total recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 33.92 trillion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest central government debt, total recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.21 trillion current LCU in 1989.
- How does United States rank for central government debt, total?
- United States ranks 9th out of 83 countries with data for 2024.
- Is central government debt, total rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 101.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Central government debt, total (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year. Central government is the part of general government that includes all administrative departments of the national executive, legislative, and judicial functions, other central agencies and those non-market producers controlled by the central government, whose competence extends normally over the whole economic territory. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.