🇺🇸 United States National Debt Clock
Live tracker for the United States government debt. The national debt currently stands at approximately $40.40 trillion, growing at $60K per second based on IMF fiscal deficit projections. Debt-to-GDP: 124%. Per-citizen share: $117,825.
Among the 135 governments tracked here, the United States ranks 12th by debt-to-GDP, 1st by total debt and 2nd by debt per person.
The United States' Debt Trajectory (2015–2025)
The United States' ratio has declined from its peak of 133% (2020) to roughly 124% at end-2025.
About the United States' National Debt
The United States carries the largest nominal government debt of any nation — the product of decades of persistent budget deficits, two major economic rescues (the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic), and sustained spending on defense, Social Security, Medicare and rising interest. Because the dollar is the world's primary reserve currency, the U.S. borrows in its own currency at relatively low rates, which has let the debt grow without a financing crisis — though climbing interest costs are an increasing worry.
The United States' debt-to-GDP ratio of 124% is among the highest in the world: higher than 91% of the 135 governments tracked here. No ratio is safe or dangerous on its own — whether a debt is sustainable depends on the interest rate on it, how fast the economy grows, the currency it is owed in and who holds it. By total government debt, the United States ranks 1st of the 135 governments tracked here.
At the current borrowing rate of $60K per second, the United States adds about $5.2 billion to its government debt every day — roughly $1898.5 billion per year. Each of the United States' 343 million residents carries an individual share of approximately $117,825. That is above the world average of roughly $14,600 in government debt per person.
Figures are computed by Global Debt Clock by linear extrapolation from each country's baseline figure, named in the source line on this page (for most countries, the IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026). Actual debt changes through discrete bond issuances — these counters illustrate the approximate scale and pace of sovereign borrowing.
United States National Debt — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the United States' national debt right now?
The United States' national debt is approximately $40.40 trillion as of October 27, 2026, growing at $60K per second. Its debt-to-GDP ratio is 124% and each citizen's share is about $117,825.
How fast is the United States' debt growing?
The United States' government debt is growing at approximately $60K per second — about $5.2 billion per day — derived from the Congressional Budget Office's FY2026 deficit projection.
What is the United States' debt per capita?
Each of the United States' 343 million residents carries a notional share of approximately $117,825 of the national debt.
What is the United States' debt-to-GDP ratio?
The United States' debt-to-GDP ratio is 124%. That is higher than 91% of the 135 governments tracked here.
Why is the United States' government debt at this level?
The United States carries the largest nominal government debt of any nation — the product of decades of persistent budget deficits, two major economic rescues (the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic), and sustained spending on defense, Social Security, Medicare and rising interest. Because the dollar is the world's primary reserve currency, the U.S. borrows in its own currency at relatively low rates, which has let the debt grow without a financing crisis — though climbing interest costs are an increasing worry.
Compare United States vs another country
Live side-by-side debt comparisons — shareable cards for journalists and social.
Further reading
Other Americas countries
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Data & Citation
Source: US Treasury total public debt, Debt to the Penny at close of 14 October 2026 (base), and CBO FY2026 deficit projection (growth rate) — a documented departure from IMF WEO · baseline anchored .
Methodology: debt = 40,329,229,827,541 + 60200 × seconds_since(2026-10-15)
Machine-readable data: /api/debt?c=us (live JSON) · /data/debt.json (full dataset)
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