U.S. Debt to GDP Ratio 1989-2023

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.
  • U.S. debt to gdp ratio for 2021 was 120.37%, a 5.86% decline from 2020.
  • U.S. debt to gdp ratio for 2020 was 126.23%, a 25.43% increase from 2019.
  • U.S. debt to gdp ratio for 2019 was 100.81%, a 1.74% increase from 2018.
  • U.S. debt to gdp ratio for 2018 was 99.06%, a 1.37% increase from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Government Debt as % of GDP
Croatia 687.99%
Greece 237.13%
Japan 217.61%
United Kingdom 186.48%
Singapore 153.80%
Spain 135.82%
United States 120.37%
France 116.55%
Belgium 109.22%
Iceland 96.87%
San Marino 95.12%
Austria 94.32%
Hungary 86.91%
Bahamas 86.19%
Slovak Republic 79.25%
Australia 70.18%
Ireland 65.40%
Canada 64.04%
New Zealand 50.99%
South Korea 49.16%
Lithuania 48.91%
Sweden 40.66%
Estonia 23.67%
Switzerland 20.30%
U.S. Debt to GDP Ratio - Historical Data
Year Government Debt as % of GDP Annual Change
2021 120.37% -5.86%
2020 126.23% 25.43%
2019 100.81% 1.74%
2018 99.06% 1.37%
2017 97.69% -0.81%
2016 98.50% 2.08%
2015 96.43% 0.66%
2014 95.77% 0.23%
2013 95.53% 1.89%
2012 93.65% 4.10%
2011 89.55% 4.58%
2010 84.96% 9.12%
2009 75.84% 12.03%
2008 63.82% 8.16%
2007 55.66% 0.19%
2006 55.47% -1.07%
2005 56.54% -0.12%
2004 56.66% 0.41%
2003 56.25% 2.39%
2002 53.86% 1.42%
2001 52.44% 19.18%
2000 33.27% -4.46%
1999 37.73% -3.40%
1998 41.13% -2.99%
1997 44.12% -2.62%
1996 46.74% -0.47%
1995 47.21% -0.14%
1994 47.35% -0.89%
1993 48.25% 2.20%
1992 46.05% 1.99%
1991 44.06% 3.13%
1990 40.93% 1.81%
1989 39.13% 1.81%