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United States - Gross Federal Debt to GDP

United States gross federal debt to GDP reached 124% in 2024, up from 122% in 2023. This increase is driven by rising interest costs due to higher interest rates, increased mandatory spending for an aging population and a structural imbalance between revenues and expenditures. The current debt-to-GDP ratio is the highest since 2020. United States's record low gross federal debt to GDP was 31.8% in 1981 and record high was 126.3% in 2020.

Yearly Historical Data (1940-2024)

(in %)
Year Gross Federal Debt to GDP
2024 124%
2023 122%
2022 121.9%
2021 123.8%
2020 126.3%
2019 106.6%
2018 105%
2017 104.3%
2016 104.8%
2015 99.8%
2014 102.1%
2013 100.2%
2012 99.6%
2011 95.5%
2010 90.9%
2009 82.1%
2008 67.5%
2007 62.6%
2006 62%
2005 61.6%
2004 61.1%
2003 59.9%
2002 57.2%
2001 54.8%
2000 55.6%
1999 59.1%
1998 61.3%
1997 63.5%
1996 65.2%
1995 65.1%
1994 64.7%
1993 64.2%
1992 62.4%
1991 59.1%
1990 54.4%
1989 51.6%
1988 50.6%
1987 49.2%
1986 46.8%
1985 42.6%
1984 39.6%
1983 38.8%
1982 34.3%
1981 31.8%
1980 32.6%
1979 32.3%
1978 34.2%
1977 34.9%
1976 35.2%
1975 33.7%
1974 32.6%
1973 34.5%
1972 35.8%
1971 36.6%
1970 36.4%
1969 37.3%
1968 41.1%
1967 40.7%
1966 42.1%
1965 45.4%
1964 47.8%
1963 50.2%
1962 51.7%
1961 53.5%
1960 54.4%
1959 57%
1958 59.1%
1957 58.8%
1956 62.2%
1955 67.5%
1954 70%
1953 69.6%
1952 72.6%
1951 78.1%
1950 92.2%
1949 91.4%
1948 96.2%
1947 107.6%
1946 118.9%
1945 114.9%
1944 95.5%
1943 77.3%
1942 53.6%
1941 49.5%
1940 51.6%
United States - Gross Federal Debt to GDP : Definition
The US gross federal debt to GDP is the ratio of the country's total government debt to its gross domestic product. It's calculated by dividing the total federal debt by the GDP. The result shows the debt's size relative to the economy's output.
Indicator Last Value Prior Value Period
Current Account to GDP Ratio -3.9% -3.3% Dec'24
Fed Funds Rate 4.25% 4.5% Sep'25
Personal Income 0.4% 0.4% Aug'25
Private Credit (% GDP) 197.9% 192.53% 2024