Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in United States of America
United States of America: Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP was 105.15 in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2015)
105.15
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
12th
of 188 countries
All-time high
121.2
in 1946
All-time low
0.0219
in 1837
Years of data
213
1800–2015
Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in United States of America, 1800–2015
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 105.15 for gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in 2015.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 62.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in United States of America peaked at 121.2 in 1946 and was at its lowest, 0.0219, in 1837.
That places United States of America 12th out of 188 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in United States of America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 18.08 | — |
| 1801 | 15.72 | -13.1% |
| 1802 | 16.47 | +4.8% |
| 1803 | 15.8 | -4.1% |
| 1804 | 16.18 | +2.4% |
| 1805 | 13.9 | -14.1% |
| 1806 | 12.43 | -10.6% |
| 1807 | 12.27 | -1.3% |
| 1808 | 14.14 | +15.3% |
| 1809 | 11.35 | -19.7% |
| 1810 | 9.9 | -12.8% |
| 1811 | 8.28 | -16.4% |
| 1812 | 7.94 | -4.0% |
| 1813 | 8.99 | +13.2% |
| 1814 | 11.63 | +29.3% |
| 1815 | 12.29 | +5.7% |
| 1816 | 14.91 | +21.3% |
| 1817 | 14.58 | -2.2% |
| 1818 | 12.68 | -13.0% |
| 1819 | 12.67 | -0.1% |
| 1820 | 13.87 | +9.5% |
| 1821 | 14.83 | +6.9% |
| 1822 | 13.28 | -10.4% |
| 1823 | 13 | -2.1% |
| 1824 | 12.02 | -7.5% |
| 1825 | 9.86 | -18.0% |
| 1826 | 9.17 | -6.9% |
| 1827 | 8.53 | -7.1% |
| 1828 | 7.66 | -10.1% |
| 1829 | 6.45 | -15.8% |
| 1830 | 5.21 | -19.3% |
| 1831 | 3.64 | -30.0% |
| 1832 | 2.1 | -42.3% |
| 1833 | 0.5393 | -74.4% |
| 1834 | 0.3601 | -33.2% |
| 1837 | 0.0219 | -93.9% |
| 1838 | 0.1877 | +758.8% |
| 1839 | 0.5383 | +186.8% |
| 1840 | 0.2081 | -61.3% |
| 1841 | 0.3039 | +46.0% |
| 1842 | 0.8144 | +168.0% |
| 1843 | 2 | +145.4% |
| 1844 | 1.3 | -35.2% |
| 1845 | 0.8129 | -37.3% |
| 1846 | 0.7565 | -6.9% |
| 1847 | 1.66 | +119.6% |
| 1848 | 1.98 | +19.2% |
| 1849 | 2.69 | +35.9% |
| 1850 | 2.5 | -7.0% |
| 1851 | 2.52 | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 2.2 | -12.9% |
| 1853 | 1.74 | -20.6% |
| 1854 | 1.09 | -37.6% |
| 1855 | 0.8799 | -19.1% |
| 1856 | 0.7626 | -13.3% |
| 1857 | 0.665 | -12.8% |
| 1858 | 1.1 | +66.0% |
| 1859 | 1.36 | +23.6% |
| 1860 | 1.44 | +5.9% |
| 1861 | 1.94 | +34.2% |
| 1862 | 9.51 | +390.5% |
| 1863 | 15.25 | +60.3% |
| 1864 | 19.06 | +24.9% |
| 1865 | 28.45 | +49.3% |
| 1866 | 30.11 | +5.8% |
| 1867 | 29.9 | -0.7% |
| 1868 | 29.76 | -0.4% |
| 1869 | 29.63 | -0.5% |
| 1870 | 29.88 | +0.9% |
| 1871 | 28.94 | -3.2% |
| 1872 | 23.62 | -18.4% |
| 1873 | 23.13 | -2.1% |
| 1874 | 24.98 | +8.0% |
| 1875 | 25.47 | +1.9% |
| 1876 | 24.54 | -3.6% |
| 1877 | 22.95 | -6.5% |
| 1878 | 23.82 | +3.8% |
| 1879 | 23.74 | -0.3% |
| 1880 | 17.51 | -26.3% |
| 1881 | 17.06 | -2.6% |
| 1882 | 13.81 | -19.0% |
| 1883 | 13.77 | -0.3% |
| 1884 | 13.29 | -3.5% |
| 1885 | 12.95 | -2.6% |
| 1886 | 11.59 | -10.5% |
| 1887 | 10.59 | -8.6% |
| 1888 | 10.14 | -4.3% |
| 1889 | 8.59 | -15.3% |
| 1890 | 7.73 | -9.9% |
| 1891 | 6.46 | -16.4% |
| 1892 | 6.18 | -4.4% |
| 1893 | 6.32 | +2.4% |
| 1894 | 7.46 | +18.0% |
| 1895 | 7.09 | -5.0% |
| 1896 | 7.99 | +12.8% |
| 1897 | 7.7 | -3.6% |
| 1898 | 7.43 | -3.5% |
| 1899 | 7.76 | +4.4% |
| 1900 | 6.55 | -15.6% |
| 1901 | 5.65 | -13.8% |
| 1902 | 5.31 | -6.0% |
| 1903 | 4.78 | -10.0% |
| 1904 | 4.89 | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 4.42 | -9.5% |
| 1906 | 3.79 | -14.2% |
| 1907 | 3.72 | -2.0% |
| 1908 | 4.49 | +20.8% |
| 1909 | 3.75 | -16.5% |
| 1910 | 3.63 | -3.2% |
| 1911 | 3.54 | -2.4% |
| 1912 | 3.41 | -3.6% |
| 1913 | 3.25 | -4.8% |
| 1914 | 3.47 | +6.7% |
| 1915 | 3.31 | -4.6% |
| 1916 | 2.74 | -17.1% |
| 1917 | 5.72 | +108.6% |
| 1918 | 18.64 | +226.1% |
| 1919 | 33.28 | +78.6% |
| 1920 | 27.91 | -16.1% |
| 1921 | 32.43 | +16.2% |
| 1922 | 31.53 | -2.8% |
| 1923 | 26.32 | -16.5% |
| 1924 | 24.42 | -7.2% |
| 1925 | 22.46 | -8.0% |
| 1926 | 20.16 | -10.3% |
| 1927 | 19.12 | -5.1% |
| 1928 | 18.19 | -4.9% |
| 1929 | 16.33 | -10.2% |
| 1930 | 17.73 | +8.6% |
| 1931 | 21.93 | +23.7% |
| 1932 | 33.14 | +51.1% |
| 1933 | 39.96 | +20.6% |
| 1934 | 40.99 | +2.6% |
| 1935 | 39.16 | -4.5% |
| 1936 | 40.36 | +3.1% |
| 1937 | 39.63 | -1.8% |
| 1938 | 43.16 | +8.9% |
| 1939 | 43.96 | +1.8% |
| 1940 | 42.42 | -3.5% |
| 1941 | 38.64 | -8.9% |
| 1942 | 44.76 | +15.8% |
| 1943 | 68.9 | +53.9% |
| 1944 | 91.49 | +32.8% |
| 1945 | 116 | +26.8% |
| 1946 | 121.2 | +4.5% |
| 1947 | 105.68 | -12.8% |
| 1948 | 93.58 | -11.5% |
| 1949 | 94.42 | +0.9% |
| 1950 | 87.45 | -7.4% |
| 1951 | 75.18 | -14.0% |
| 1952 | 72.25 | -3.9% |
| 1953 | 70.04 | -3.1% |
| 1954 | 71.18 | +1.6% |
| 1955 | 66.08 | -7.2% |
| 1956 | 62.27 | -5.8% |
| 1957 | 58.62 | -5.9% |
| 1958 | 59.06 | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 56.11 | -5.0% |
| 1960 | 54.29 | -3.2% |
| 1961 | 52.95 | -2.5% |
| 1962 | 50.84 | -4.0% |
| 1963 | 49.44 | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 46.92 | -5.1% |
| 1965 | 44.06 | -6.1% |
| 1966 | 40.53 | -8.0% |
| 1967 | 39.11 | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 38.13 | -2.5% |
| 1969 | 35.9 | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 35.68 | -0.6% |
| 1971 | 36.17 | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 35.14 | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 33.66 | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 32.24 | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 33.14 | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 34.48 | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 34.77 | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 33.83 | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 41.18 | +21.7% |
| 1981 | 40.33 | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 44.98 | +11.5% |
| 1983 | 47.85 | +6.4% |
| 1984 | 49.51 | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 54.09 | +9.2% |
| 1986 | 57.52 | +6.3% |
| 1987 | 59.28 | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 60.15 | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 60.28 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 61.99 | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 66.37 | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 68.61 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 70.19 | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 69.39 | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 68.8 | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 68.03 | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 65.62 | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 62.47 | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 58.88 | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 53.03 | -9.9% |
| 2001 | 53.02 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 55.38 | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 58.52 | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 65.49 | +11.9% |
| 2005 | 64.89 | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 63.64 | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 64.01 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 72.85 | +13.8% |
| 2009 | 86.03 | +18.1% |
| 2010 | 94.73 | +10.1% |
| 2011 | 98.99 | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 102.5 | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 104.62 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 104.61 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 105.15 | +0.5% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 105.15 is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.98, 2.0× the median. (61 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in United States of America changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1838 | +758.8% | 0.0219 | 0.1877 |
| 1862 | +390.5% | 1.94 | 9.51 |
| 1918 | +226.1% | 5.72 | 18.64 |
| 1839 | +186.8% | 0.1877 | 0.5383 |
| 1842 | +168.0% | 0.3039 | 0.8144 |
| 1843 | +145.4% | 0.8144 | 2 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 14.64 | 11.35 | 18.08 | 10 |
| 1810s | 11.39 | 7.94 | 14.91 | 10 |
| 1820s | 10.87 | 6.45 | 14.83 | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.58 | 0.0219 | 5.21 | 8 |
| 1840s | 1.25 | 0.2081 | 2.69 | 10 |
| 1850s | 1.48 | 0.665 | 2.52 | 10 |
| 1860s | 19.51 | 1.44 | 30.11 | 10 |
| 1870s | 25.11 | 22.95 | 29.88 | 10 |
| 1880s | 12.93 | 8.59 | 17.51 | 10 |
| 1890s | 7.21 | 6.18 | 7.99 | 10 |
| 1900s | 4.73 | 3.72 | 6.55 | 10 |
| 1910s | 8.1 | 2.74 | 33.28 | 10 |
| 1920s | 23.89 | 16.33 | 32.43 | 10 |
| 1930s | 36 | 17.73 | 43.96 | 10 |
| 1940s | 81.71 | 38.64 | 121.2 | 10 |
| 1950s | 67.82 | 56.11 | 87.45 | 10 |
| 1960s | 45.22 | 35.9 | 54.29 | 10 |
| 1970s | 34.35 | 32.24 | 36.17 | 9 |
| 1980s | 51.52 | 40.33 | 60.28 | 10 |
| 1990s | 66.03 | 58.88 | 70.19 | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.69 | 53.02 | 86.03 | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.77 | 94.73 | 105.15 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More external debt data for United States of America
- Other investment, Debt instruments 6.50 trillion US dollar (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 16.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 2.69 trillion US dollar (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 19,013 US dollar per person (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 0.2112 US dollar per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 3.53 trillion (2025)
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government, Percent of -7.59 (2030)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 15.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government -3.44 (2030)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 7,875 US dollar per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in United States of America?
- Gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in United States of America was 105.15 in 2015, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 121.2 in 1946.
- What is the lowest gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0219 in 1837.
- How does United States of America rank for gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp?
- United States of America ranks 12th out of 188 countries with data for 2015.
- Is gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Historical Public Debt Database contains unbalanced panel data on Gross Domestic Product, Gross Government Debt, and Debt to GDP Ratio for 187 countries. The series spans the years 1800 through 2015 although each country’s data depends on its date of independence and data availability.