Official historical series
U.S. national debt by year
Every fiscal year from 1790 to 2026, plus the exact Treasury publication on which the debt crossed each trillion-dollar mark. No interpolation, no estimates — each row is an official record with its date.
1790$71.1 millionFirst recorded total
First $1 trillionFY1982192 years after the first record
FY2026 close$40.2 trillion30 September 2026
Latest confirmed$40.6 trillion9 November 2026
236 years of federal debt
Logarithmic scale: each gridline is ten times the one below it.
- 1790Founding debt $71.1 million
The new federal government inherited the Revolutionary War debts of the Continental Congress; under Alexander Hamilton’s 1790 funding plan it also assumed the states’ war debts.
- 1835Nearly paid off $33,733
Under President Andrew Jackson the federal government briefly paid off almost all of its debt — the only time in U.S. history.
- 1866Civil War $2.77 billion
Borrowing to finance the Civil War pushed the debt past $1 billion for the first time in fiscal year 1863.
- 1919World War I $27.4 billion
Liberty Bond drives financed the war; the debt grew about 8-fold between the 1916 and 1919 records.
- 1946World War II $269 billion
The largest war mobilization in U.S. history; debt held by the public exceeded the size of the entire economy.
- 1982First trillion $1.14 trillion
The debt passed $1 trillion amid tax cuts, a defense buildup and back-to-back recessions.
- 2001Surplus years end $5.81 trillion
The last of four consecutive budget surpluses (fiscal years 1998–2001); total debt still rose because of trust-fund surpluses.
- 2009Financial crisis $11.9 trillion
Recession cut tax receipts while stimulus and stabilization spending rose.
- 2021Pandemic $28.4 trillion
Emergency relief legislation produced the largest deficits since World War II in fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
The daily-record era, 1993–2026
On a linear scale from zero, the post-2008 and post-2020 accelerations are plain. Source: Debt to the Penny, last publication in each calendar year (current year: latest). Download CSV
Trillion-dollar milestones
The first Treasury publication at or above each whole trillion, and how long the debt took to add that trillion.
| Milestone | First reached | Confirmed total | Time since previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40 trillion | 18 August 2026 | $40,047,425,768,420 | 5 months |
| $39 trillion | 17 March 2026 | $39,016,762,910,245 | 5 months |
| $38 trillion | 21 October 2025 | $38,019,813,354,700 | 71 days |
| $37 trillion | 11 August 2025 | $37,004,817,625,843 | 9 months |
| $36 trillion | 21 November 2024 | $36,034,994,586,982 | 118 days |
| $35 trillion | 26 July 2024 | $35,001,278,179,209 | 7 months |
| $34 trillion | 29 December 2023 | $34,001,493,655,565 | 105 days |
| $33 trillion | 15 September 2023 | $33,044,858,730,468 | 92 days |
| $32 trillion | 15 June 2023 | $32,039,244,474,238 | 8 months |
| $31 trillion | 3 October 2022 | $31,123,887,781,401 | 8 months |
| $30 trillion | 31 January 2022 | $30,012,386,059,238 | 46 days |
| $29 trillion | 16 December 2021 | $29,206,281,597,430 | 10 months |
| $28 trillion | 1 March 2021 | $28,004,376,276,999 | 5 months |
| $27 trillion | 1 October 2020 | $27,026,921,935,432 | 114 days |
| $26 trillion | 9 June 2020 | $26,003,751,512,345 | 35 days |
| $25 trillion | 5 May 2020 | $25,057,924,023,407 | 28 days |
| $24 trillion | 7 April 2020 | $24,011,523,316,653 | 5 months |
| $23 trillion | 31 October 2019 | $23,008,409,564,495 | 9 months |
| $22 trillion | 11 February 2019 | $22,012,840,891,685 | 11 months |
| $21 trillion | 15 March 2018 | $21,031,067,004,766 | 6 months |
| $20 trillion | 8 September 2017 | $20,162,176,797,904 | 19 months |
| $19 trillion | 29 January 2016 | $19,012,827,698,418 | 14 months |
| $18 trillion | 28 November 2014 | $18,005,549,328,561 | 13 months |
| $17 trillion | 17 October 2013 | $17,075,590,107,964 | 14 months |
| $16 trillion | 31 August 2012 | $16,015,769,788,216 | 10 months |
| $15 trillion | 15 November 2011 | $15,033,607,255,920 | 10 months |
| $14 trillion | 31 December 2010 | $14,025,215,218,709 | 7 months |
| $13 trillion | 1 June 2010 | $13,050,826,460,887 | 6 months |
| $12 trillion | 16 November 2009 | $12,031,299,186,290 | 8 months |
| $11 trillion | 16 March 2009 | $11,033,157,578,670 | 5 months |
| $10 trillion | 30 September 2008 | $10,024,724,896,912 | 13 months |
| $9 trillion | 31 August 2007 | $9,005,648,561,263 | 22 months |
| $8 trillion | 18 October 2005 | $8,003,897,406,911 | 21 months |
| $7 trillion | 15 January 2004 | $7,001,852,607,623 | 23 months |
| $6 trillion | 26 February 2002 | $6,002,734,772,405 | 72 months |
| $5 trillion | 23 February 1996 | $5,017,056,630,041 | — |
When one publication jumps past two marks at once (for example after a debt-limit suspension), both milestones share a date.
National debt by fiscal year
Treasury source| Fiscal year | Record date | Total debt | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 30 September 2026 | $40,171,825,101,340 | +$2.53 trillion (+6.7%) |
| 2025 | 30 September 2025 | $37,637,553,494,936 | +$2.17 trillion (+6.1%) |
| 2024 | 30 September 2024 | $35,464,673,929,172 | +$2.30 trillion (+6.9%) |
| 2023 | 30 September 2023 | $33,167,334,044,723 | +$2.24 trillion (+7.2%) |
| 2022 | 30 September 2022 | $30,928,911,613,307 | +$2.50 trillion (+8.8%) |
| 2021 | 30 September 2021 | $28,428,918,570,049 | +$1.48 trillion (+5.5%) |
| 2020 | 30 September 2020 | $26,945,391,194,615 | +$4.23 trillion (+18.6%) |
| 2019 | 30 September 2019 | $22,719,401,753,434 | +$1.20 trillion (+5.6%) |
| 2018 | 30 September 2018 | $21,516,058,183,180 | +$1.27 trillion (+6.3%) |
| 2017 | 30 September 2017 | $20,244,900,016,054 | +$671 billion (+3.4%) |
| 2016 | 30 September 2016 | $19,573,444,713,937 | +$1.42 trillion (+7.8%) |
| 2015 | 30 September 2015 | $18,150,617,666,484 | +$327 billion (+1.8%) |
| 2014 | 30 September 2014 | $17,824,071,380,734 | +$1.09 trillion (+6.5%) |
| 2013 | 30 September 2013 | $16,738,183,526,697 | +$672 billion (+4.2%) |
| 2012 | 30 September 2012 | $16,066,241,407,386 | +$1.28 trillion (+8.6%) |
| 2011 | 30 September 2011 | $14,790,340,328,557 | +$1.23 trillion (+9.1%) |
| 2010 | 30 September 2010 | $13,561,623,030,892 | +$1.65 trillion (+13.9%) |
| 2009 | 30 September 2009 | $11,909,829,003,512 | +$1.89 trillion (+18.8%) |
| 2008 | 30 September 2008 | $10,024,724,896,912 | +$1.02 trillion (+11.3%) |
| 2007 | 30 September 2007 | $9,007,653,372,262 | +$501 billion (+5.9%) |
| 2006 | 30 September 2006 | $8,506,973,899,215 | +$574 billion (+7.2%) |
| 2005 | 30 September 2005 | $7,932,709,661,724 | +$554 billion (+7.5%) |
| 2004 | 30 September 2004 | $7,379,052,696,330 | +$596 billion (+8.8%) |
| 2003 | 30 September 2003 | $6,783,231,062,744 | +$555 billion (+8.9%) |
| 2002 | 30 September 2002 | $6,228,235,965,597 | +$421 billion (+7.2%) |
| 2001 | 30 September 2001 | $5,807,463,412,200 | +$133 billion (+2.3%) |
| 2000 | 30 September 2000 | $5,674,178,209,887 | +$17.9 billion (+0.3%) |
| 1999 | 30 September 1999 | $5,656,270,901,615 | +$130 billion (+2.4%) |
| 1998 | 30 September 1998 | $5,526,193,008,898 | +$113 billion (+2.1%) |
| 1997 | 30 September 1997 | $5,413,146,011,397 | +$188 billion (+3.6%) |
| 1996 | 30 September 1996 | $5,224,810,939,136 | +$251 billion (+5.0%) |
| 1995 | 29 September 1995 | $4,973,982,900,709 | +$281 billion (+6.0%) |
| 1994 | 30 September 1994 | $4,692,749,910,013 | +$281 billion (+6.4%) |
| 1993 | 30 September 1993 | $4,411,488,883,139 | +$347 billion (+8.5%) |
| 1992 | 30 September 1992 | $4,064,620,655,522 | +$399 billion (+10.9%) |
| 1991 | 30 September 1991 | $3,665,303,351,697 | +$432 billion (+13.4%) |
| 1990 | 28 September 1990 | $3,233,313,451,777 | +$376 billion (+13.2%) |
| 1989 | 29 September 1989 | $2,857,430,960,187 | +$255 billion (+9.8%) |
| 1988 | 30 September 1988 | $2,602,337,712,041 | +$252 billion (+10.7%) |
| 1987 | 30 September 1987 | $2,350,276,890,953 | +$225 billion (+10.6%) |
Show fiscal years 1790–1986
| Fiscal year | Record date | Total debt | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 30 September 1986 | $2,125,302,616,658 | +$302 billion (+16.6%) |
| 1985 | 30 September 1985 | $1,823,103,000,000 | +$251 billion (+16.0%) |
| 1984 | 30 September 1984 | $1,572,266,000,000 | +$195 billion (+14.2%) |
| 1983 | 30 September 1983 | $1,377,210,000,000 | +$235 billion (+20.6%) |
| 1982 | 30 September 1982 | $1,142,034,000,000 | +$144 billion (+14.4%) |
| 1981 | 30 September 1981 | $997,855,000,000 | +$90.2 billion (+9.9%) |
| 1980 | 30 September 1980 | $907,701,000,000 | +$81.2 billion (+9.8%) |
| 1979 | 30 September 1979 | $826,519,000,000 | +$55.0 billion (+7.1%) |
| 1978 | 30 September 1978 | $771,544,000,000 | +$72.7 billion (+10.4%) |
| 1977 | 30 September 1977 | $698,840,000,000 | +$78.4 billion (+12.6%) |
| 1976 | 30 June 1976 | $620,433,000,000 | +$87.2 billion (+16.4%) |
| 1975 | 30 June 1975 | $533,189,000,000 | +$58.1 billion (+12.2%) |
| 1974 | 30 June 1974 | $475,059,815,732 | +$16.9 billion (+3.7%) |
| 1973 | 30 June 1973 | $458,141,605,312 | +$30.9 billion (+7.2%) |
| 1972 | 30 June 1972 | $427,260,460,941 | +$29.1 billion (+7.3%) |
| 1971 | 30 June 1971 | $398,129,744,456 | +$27.2 billion (+7.3%) |
| 1970 | 30 June 1970 | $370,918,706,950 | +$17.2 billion (+4.9%) |
| 1969 | 30 June 1969 | $353,720,253,841 | +$6.14 billion (+1.8%) |
| 1968 | 30 June 1968 | $347,578,406,426 | +$21.4 billion (+6.5%) |
| 1967 | 30 June 1967 | $326,220,937,795 | +$6.31 billion (+2.0%) |
| 1966 | 30 June 1966 | $319,907,087,795 | +$2.63 billion (+0.8%) |
| 1965 | 30 June 1965 | $317,273,898,984 | +$5.56 billion (+1.8%) |
| 1964 | 30 June 1964 | $311,712,899,257 | +$5.85 billion (+1.9%) |
| 1963 | 30 June 1963 | $305,859,632,996 | +$7.66 billion (+2.6%) |
| 1962 | 30 June 1962 | $298,200,822,721 | +$9.23 billion (+3.2%) |
| 1961 | 30 June 1961 | $288,970,938,610 | +$2.64 billion (+0.9%) |
| 1960 | 30 June 1960 | $286,330,760,848 | +$1.62 billion (+0.6%) |
| 1959 | 30 June 1959 | $284,705,907,078 | +$8.36 billion (+3.0%) |
| 1958 | 30 June 1958 | $276,343,217,746 | +$5.82 billion (+2.1%) |
| 1957 | 30 June 1957 | $270,527,171,896 | −$2.22 billion (−0.8%) |
| 1956 | 30 June 1956 | $272,750,813,649 | −$1.62 billion (−0.6%) |
| 1955 | 30 June 1955 | $274,374,222,803 | +$3.11 billion (+1.1%) |
| 1954 | 30 June 1954 | $271,259,599,108 | +$5.19 billion (+2.0%) |
| 1953 | 30 June 1953 | $266,071,061,639 | +$6.97 billion (+2.7%) |
| 1952 | 30 June 1952 | $259,105,178,785 | +$3.88 billion (+1.5%) |
| 1951 | 29 June 1951 | $255,221,976,815 | −$2.14 billion (−0.8%) |
| 1950 | 30 June 1950 | $257,357,352,351 | +$4.59 billion (+1.8%) |
| 1949 | 30 June 1949 | $252,770,359,860 | +$478 million (+0.2%) |
| 1948 | 30 June 1948 | $252,292,246,513 | −$5.99 billion (−2.3%) |
| 1947 | 30 June 1947 | $258,286,383,109 | −$11.1 billion (−4.1%) |
| 1946 | 28 June 1946 | $269,422,099,173 | +$10.7 billion (+4.2%) |
| 1945 | 30 June 1945 | $258,682,187,410 | +$57.7 billion (+28.7%) |
| 1944 | 30 June 1944 | $201,003,387,221 | +$64.3 billion (+47.0%) |
| 1943 | 30 June 1943 | $136,696,090,330 | +$64.3 billion (+88.7%) |
| 1942 | 30 June 1942 | $72,422,445,116 | +$23.5 billion (+47.9%) |
| 1941 | 30 June 1941 | $48,961,443,536 | +$5.99 billion (+13.9%) |
| 1940 | 29 June 1940 | $42,967,531,038 | +$2.53 billion (+6.3%) |
| 1939 | 30 June 1939 | $40,439,532,411 | +$3.27 billion (+8.8%) |
| 1938 | 30 June 1938 | $37,164,740,315 | +$740 million (+2.0%) |
| 1937 | 30 June 1937 | $36,424,613,732 | +$2.65 billion (+7.8%) |
| 1936 | 30 June 1936 | $33,778,543,494 | +$5.08 billion (+17.7%) |
| 1935 | 29 June 1935 | $28,700,892,625 | +$1.65 billion (+6.1%) |
| 1934 | 30 June 1934 | $27,053,141,414 | +$4.51 billion (+20.0%) |
| 1933 | 30 June 1933 | $22,538,672,560 | +$3.05 billion (+15.7%) |
| 1932 | 30 June 1932 | $19,487,002,444 | +$2.69 billion (+16.0%) |
| 1931 | 30 June 1931 | $16,801,281,492 | +$616 million (+3.8%) |
| 1930 | 30 June 1930 | $16,185,309,831 | −$746 million (−4.4%) |
| 1929 | 29 June 1929 | $16,931,088,484 | −$673 million (−3.8%) |
| 1928 | 30 June 1928 | $17,604,293,201 | −$908 million (−4.9%) |
| 1927 | 30 June 1927 | $18,511,906,932 | −$1.13 billion (−5.8%) |
| 1926 | 30 June 1926 | $19,643,216,315 | −$873 million (−4.3%) |
| 1925 | 30 June 1925 | $20,516,193,888 | −$735 million (−3.5%) |
| 1924 | 30 June 1924 | $21,250,812,989 | −$1.10 billion (−4.9%) |
| 1923 | 30 June 1923 | $22,349,707,365 | −$614 million (−2.7%) |
| 1922 | 30 June 1922 | $22,963,381,708 | −$1.01 billion (−4.2%) |
| 1921 | 30 June 1921 | $23,977,450,553 | −$1.98 billion (−7.6%) |
| 1920 | 1 July 1920 | $25,952,456,406 | −$1.44 billion (−5.3%) |
| 1919 | 1 July 1919 | $27,390,970,113 | +$12.8 billion (+87.7%) |
| 1918 | 1 July 1918 | $14,592,161,414 | +$8.87 billion (+155.2%) |
| 1917 | 1 July 1917 | $5,717,770,280 | +$2.11 billion (+58.4%) |
| 1916 | 1 July 1916 | $3,609,244,262 | +$551 million (+18.0%) |
| 1915 | 1 July 1915 | $3,058,136,873 | +$146 million (+5.0%) |
| 1914 | 1 July 1914 | $2,912,499,269 | −$3.71 million (−0.1%) |
| 1913 | 1 July 1913 | $2,916,204,914 | +$47.8 million (+1.7%) |
| 1912 | 1 July 1912 | $2,868,373,874 | +$103 million (+3.7%) |
| 1911 | 1 July 1911 | $2,765,600,607 | +$113 million (+4.3%) |
| 1910 | 1 July 1910 | $2,652,665,838 | +$13.1 million (+0.5%) |
| 1909 | 1 July 1909 | $2,639,546,241 | +$12.7 million (+0.5%) |
| 1908 | 1 July 1908 | $2,626,806,272 | +$170 million (+6.9%) |
| 1907 | 1 July 1907 | $2,457,188,062 | +$120 million (+5.1%) |
| 1906 | 1 July 1906 | $2,337,161,839 | +$62.5 million (+2.7%) |
| 1905 | 1 July 1905 | $2,274,615,064 | +$10.6 million (+0.5%) |
| 1904 | 1 July 1904 | $2,264,003,585 | +$61.5 million (+2.8%) |
| 1903 | 1 July 1903 | $2,202,464,782 | +$43.9 million (+2.0%) |
| 1902 | 1 July 1902 | $2,158,610,446 | +$15.3 million (+0.7%) |
| 1901 | 1 July 1901 | $2,143,326,934 | +$6.37 million (+0.3%) |
| 1900 | 1 July 1900 | $2,136,961,092 | +$145 million (+7.3%) |
| 1899 | 1 July 1899 | $1,991,927,307 | +$195 million (+10.9%) |
| 1898 | 1 July 1898 | $1,796,531,996 | −$21.1 million (−1.2%) |
| 1897 | 1 July 1897 | $1,817,672,666 | +$47.8 million (+2.7%) |
| 1896 | 1 July 1896 | $1,769,840,323 | +$93.7 million (+5.6%) |
| 1895 | 1 July 1895 | $1,676,120,983 | +$43.9 million (+2.7%) |
| 1894 | 1 July 1894 | $1,632,253,637 | +$86.3 million (+5.6%) |
| 1893 | 1 July 1893 | $1,545,985,686 | −$42.5 million (−2.7%) |
| 1892 | 1 July 1892 | $1,588,464,145 | +$42.5 million (+2.7%) |
| 1891 | 1 July 1891 | $1,545,996,592 | −$6.14 million (−0.4%) |
| 1890 | 1 July 1890 | $1,552,140,205 | −$66.9 million (−4.1%) |
| 1889 | 1 July 1889 | $1,619,052,922 | −$73.8 million (−4.4%) |
| 1888 | 1 July 1888 | $1,692,858,985 | +$35.3 million (+2.1%) |
| 1887 | 1 July 1887 | $1,657,602,593 | −$117 million (−6.6%) |
| 1886 | 1 July 1886 | $1,775,063,014 | −$88.9 million (−4.8%) |
| 1885 | 1 July 1885 | $1,863,964,873 | +$33.4 million (+1.8%) |
| 1884 | 1 July 1884 | $1,830,528,924 | −$53.6 million (−2.8%) |
| 1883 | 1 July 1883 | $1,884,171,728 | −$34.1 million (−1.8%) |
| 1882 | 1 July 1882 | $1,918,312,994 | −$151 million (−7.3%) |
| 1881 | 1 July 1881 | $2,069,013,570 | −$51.4 million (−2.4%) |
| 1880 | 1 July 1880 | $2,120,415,371 | −$229 million (−9.8%) |
| 1879 | 1 July 1879 | $2,349,567,482 | +$93.4 million (+4.1%) |
| 1878 | 1 July 1878 | $2,256,205,893 | +$50.9 million (+2.3%) |
| 1877 | 1 July 1877 | $2,205,301,392 | +$24.9 million (+1.1%) |
| 1876 | 1 July 1876 | $2,180,395,067 | −$51.9 million (−2.3%) |
| 1875 | 1 July 1875 | $2,232,284,532 | −$19.4 million (−0.9%) |
| 1874 | 1 July 1874 | $2,251,690,468 | +$17.2 million (+0.8%) |
| 1873 | 1 July 1873 | $2,234,482,993 | −$18.8 million (−0.8%) |
| 1872 | 1 July 1872 | $2,253,251,329 | −$100.0 million (−4.2%) |
| 1871 | 1 July 1871 | $2,353,211,332 | −$127 million (−5.1%) |
| 1870 | 1 July 1870 | $2,480,672,428 | −$108 million (−4.2%) |
| 1869 | 1 July 1869 | $2,588,452,214 | −$23.2 million (−0.9%) |
| 1868 | 1 July 1868 | $2,611,687,851 | −$66.4 million (−2.5%) |
| 1867 | 1 July 1867 | $2,678,126,104 | −$95.1 million (−3.4%) |
| 1866 | 1 July 1866 | $2,773,236,174 | +$92.6 million (+3.5%) |
| 1865 | 1 July 1865 | $2,680,647,870 | +$865 million (+47.6%) |
| 1864 | 1 July 1864 | $1,815,784,371 | +$696 million (+62.2%) |
| 1863 | 1 July 1863 | $1,119,772,139 | +$596 million (+113.6%) |
| 1862 | 1 July 1862 | $524,176,412 | +$434 million (+478.7%) |
| 1861 | 1 July 1861 | $90,580,874 | +$25.7 million (+39.7%) |
| 1860 | 1 July 1860 | $64,842,288 | +$6.35 million (+10.8%) |
| 1859 | 1 July 1859 | $58,496,838 | +$13.6 million (+30.2%) |
| 1858 | 1 July 1858 | $44,911,881 | +$16.2 million (+56.5%) |
| 1857 | 1 July 1857 | $28,699,832 | −$3.27 million (−10.2%) |
| 1856 | 1 July 1856 | $31,972,538 | −$3.61 million (−10.2%) |
| 1855 | 1 July 1855 | $35,586,957 | −$6.66 million (−15.8%) |
| 1854 | 1 July 1854 | $42,242,222 | −$17.6 million (−29.4%) |
| 1853 | 1 July 1853 | $59,803,118 | −$6.40 million (−9.7%) |
| 1852 | 1 July 1852 | $66,199,342 | −$2.11 million (−3.1%) |
| 1851 | 1 July 1851 | $68,304,796 | +$4.85 million (+7.6%) |
| 1850 | 1 July 1850 | $63,452,774 | +$390,915 (+0.6%) |
| 1849 | 1 July 1849 | $63,061,859 | +$16.0 million (+34.0%) |
| 1848 | 1 July 1848 | $47,044,862 | +$8.22 million (+21.2%) |
| 1847 | 1 July 1847 | $38,826,535 | +$23.3 million (+149.7%) |
| 1846 | 1 July 1846 | $15,550,203 | −$375,100 (−2.4%) |
| 1845 | 1 July 1845 | $15,925,303 | −$7.54 million (−32.1%) |
| 1844 | 1 July 1844 | $23,461,653 | −$9.28 million (−28.3%) |
| 1843 | 1 July 1843 | $32,742,922 | +$12.5 million (+62.1%) |
| 1843 | 1 January 1843 | $20,201,226 | +$6.61 million (+48.6%) |
| 1842 | 1 January 1842 | $13,594,481 | +$8.34 million (+158.9%) |
| 1841 | 1 January 1841 | $5,250,876 | +$1.68 million (+46.9%) |
| 1840 | 1 January 1840 | $3,573,344 | −$6.86 million (−65.8%) |
| 1839 | 1 January 1839 | $10,434,221 | +$7.13 million (+215.4%) |
| 1838 | 1 January 1838 | $3,308,124 | +$2.97 million (+881.8%) |
| 1837 | 1 January 1837 | $336,958 | +$299,445 (+798.2%) |
| 1836 | 1 January 1836 | $37,513 | +$3,780 (+11.2%) |
| 1835 | 1 January 1835 | $33,733 | −$4.73 million (−99.3%) |
| 1834 | 1 January 1834 | $4,760,082 | −$2.24 million (−32.0%) |
| 1833 | 1 January 1833 | $7,001,699 | −$17.3 million (−71.2%) |
| 1832 | 1 January 1832 | $24,322,235 | −$14.8 million (−37.8%) |
| 1831 | 1 January 1831 | $39,123,192 | −$9.44 million (−19.4%) |
| 1830 | 1 January 1830 | $48,565,407 | −$9.86 million (−16.9%) |
| 1829 | 1 January 1829 | $58,421,414 | −$9.05 million (−13.4%) |
| 1828 | 1 January 1828 | $67,475,044 | −$6.51 million (−8.8%) |
| 1827 | 1 January 1827 | $73,987,357 | −$7.07 million (−8.7%) |
| 1826 | 1 January 1826 | $81,054,060 | −$2.73 million (−3.3%) |
| 1825 | 1 January 1825 | $83,788,433 | −$6.48 million (−7.2%) |
| 1824 | 1 January 1824 | $90,269,778 | −$606,100 (−0.7%) |
| 1823 | 1 January 1823 | $90,875,877 | −$2.67 million (−2.9%) |
| 1822 | 1 January 1822 | $93,546,677 | +$3.56 million (+4.0%) |
| 1821 | 1 January 1821 | $89,987,428 | −$1.03 million (−1.1%) |
| 1820 | 1 January 1820 | $91,015,566 | −$4.51 million (−4.7%) |
| 1819 | 1 January 1819 | $95,529,648 | −$7.94 million (−7.7%) |
| 1818 | 1 January 1818 | $103,466,634 | −$20.0 million (−16.2%) |
| 1817 | 1 January 1817 | $123,491,965 | −$3.84 million (−3.0%) |
| 1816 | 1 January 1816 | $127,334,934 | +$27.5 million (+27.5%) |
| 1815 | 1 January 1815 | $99,833,660 | +$18.3 million (+22.5%) |
| 1814 | 1 January 1814 | $81,487,846 | +$25.5 million (+45.6%) |
| 1813 | 1 January 1813 | $55,962,828 | +$10.8 million (+23.8%) |
| 1812 | 1 January 1812 | $45,209,738 | −$2.80 million (−5.8%) |
| 1811 | 1 January 1811 | $48,005,588 | −$5.17 million (−9.7%) |
| 1810 | 1 January 1810 | $53,173,218 | −$3.85 million (−6.8%) |
| 1809 | 1 January 1809 | $57,023,192 | −$8.17 million (−12.5%) |
| 1808 | 1 January 1808 | $65,196,318 | −$4.02 million (−5.8%) |
| 1807 | 1 January 1807 | $69,218,399 | −$6.50 million (−8.6%) |
| 1806 | 1 January 1806 | $75,723,271 | −$6.59 million (−8.0%) |
| 1805 | 1 January 1805 | $82,312,151 | −$4.11 million (−4.8%) |
| 1804 | 1 January 1804 | $86,427,121 | +$9.37 million (+12.2%) |
| 1803 | 1 January 1803 | $77,054,686 | −$3.66 million (−4.5%) |
| 1802 | 1 January 1802 | $80,712,632 | −$2.33 million (−2.8%) |
| 1801 | 1 January 1801 | $83,038,051 | +$61,756 (+0.1%) |
| 1800 | 1 January 1800 | $82,976,294 | +$4.57 million (+5.8%) |
| 1799 | 1 January 1799 | $78,408,670 | −$819,859 (−1.0%) |
| 1798 | 1 January 1798 | $79,228,529 | −$2.84 million (−3.5%) |
| 1797 | 1 January 1797 | $82,064,479 | −$1.70 million (−2.0%) |
| 1796 | 1 January 1796 | $83,762,172 | +$3.01 million (+3.7%) |
| 1795 | 1 January 1795 | $80,747,587 | +$2.32 million (+3.0%) |
| 1794 | 1 January 1794 | $78,427,405 | −$1.93 million (−2.4%) |
| 1793 | 1 January 1793 | $80,358,634 | +$3.13 million (+4.1%) |
| 1792 | 1 January 1792 | $77,227,925 | +$1.76 million (+2.3%) |
| 1791 | 1 January 1791 | $75,463,477 | +$4.40 million (+6.2%) |
| 1790 | 1 January 1790 | $71,060,509 | — |
How to read the history
National debt is a stock: the accumulated amount outstanding on a date. A federal deficit is a flow: the gap between spending and revenue during a period. They are related, but trust-fund borrowing and cash management mean annual deficits do not map one-for-one onto debt changes — see the deficit page for a year-by-year comparison.
Nominal totals also exaggerate early growth and understate the scale of past war debts. Relative to the economy, gross debt peaked at 118.2% of GDP in fiscal 1946 and stood at 124.1% in fiscal 2025; on the narrower held-by-the-public measure, the post-war record is still higher than today. See debt-to-GDP since 1930.
Attribution caution: placing debt changes under presidential terms is useful chronology, not proof of sole responsibility. Congress authorizes spending and taxes, and major policies persist across administrations. See debt by president.
History questions
How much was the national debt in 1790?
The first figure in the Treasury’s historical series is $71,060,509 (1 January 1790), mostly inherited Revolutionary War debt.
When did the national debt reach $1 trillion?
The debt first ended a fiscal year above $1 trillion in fiscal year 1982, at $1.14 trillion. It took 192 years to reach that level; it now rises by about $1 trillion every 97 days at the recent pace.
Has the United States ever paid off its debt?
Almost. In fiscal year 1835 the recorded debt fell to $33,733 under President Andrew Jackson. It rose again after the Panic of 1837.
Are these values adjusted for inflation?
No. They are nominal dollar totals exactly as published. For a scale-adjusted comparison, see debt-to-GDP; inflation-adjusted comparisons answer a different question and should be labelled separately.
Why are some early dates not 30 September?
The Treasury’s historical series records early totals at the start of a year (1 January through 1843, then 1 July), and later totals at the end of each fiscal year (30 June until 1976, 30 September since 1977, when the fiscal year changed). The table shows each record’s actual date.
Explore related data
TodayCurrent U.S. debtThe confirmed total, recent Treasury changes and the live projection.Personal scaleDebt per personPer resident and per taxpayer today, and debt per person since 1930.CalculatorNational debt calculatorYour share per resident, taxpayer or household, your share of interest, and growth since any year.Annual gapFederal deficitThis fiscal year month by month, and every completed year’s receipts and outlays.Legal limitDebt ceiling trackerThe statutory limit, debt subject to it, remaining headroom and the timeline.HoldersWho owns the debtTrust funds, U.S. investors and foreign holders by country, with custody caveats.ContextDebt by presidentAdministration-period changes without pretending presidents act alone.CostInterest on the debtAnnual interest expense since 2016 and the average rate on every security type.Economic scaleDebt-to-GDPThe current ratio, its history since 1930 and the World War II comparison.Essential distinctionDebt versus deficitA balance on one date versus a budget gap measured across a period.Plain EnglishDebt glossaryThe definitions needed to compare fiscal numbers without mixing concepts.PublishFree debt clock widgetEmbed a sourced, accessible clock on any site with one line of HTML.