Real interest rate in United States
United States: Real interest rate was -1.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Real interest rate in United States, 1961–2021
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for real interest rate in United States is -1.3%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 157.9% on the previous year and down 208.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real interest rate in United States peaked at 8.6% in 1981 and was at its lowest, -1.3%, in 1975.
That places United States 129th out of 148 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.8% | 1.9% | 3.4% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.5% | -1.3% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.8% | 5.6% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.6% | 3.5% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 1.6% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 1.2% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | -1.3% | 2.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
More financial sector data for United States
- Domestic credit to private sector 201.3% (2025)
- Net domestic credit 32.37 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 2.84 (2025)
- Net foreign assets 1.26 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 44.5% (2025)
- Claims on central government, etc. 54.2% (2025)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 44.5% (2025)
- Broad money 99.7% (2025)
- Official exchange rate 1 LCU per US$, period average (2025)
- Net migration 1.23 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is real interest rate in United States?
- Real interest rate in United States was -1.3% in 2021, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest real interest rate recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 1981.
- What is the lowest real interest rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.3% in 1975.
- How does United States rank for real interest rate?
- United States ranks 129th out of 148 countries with data for 2021.
- Is real interest rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 208.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Real interest rate (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
An interest rate is the amount charged, expressed as a percentage of the principal over a period of time, by the owners of certain kinds of financial assets for putting the financial assets at the disposal of another institutional unit. The real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability. This indicator is expressed as a percentage (a÷b)*100.