What is the Debt of the United States?
L. S. Wynn
L. S. Wynn
The United States government's debt is very high. The interest on the debt has become a significant component of the US budget. The chart below illustrates the growth in the public debt over the years. The figures represent the official historical figures of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Please note that the dollar amounts are in billions of US Dollars and are not adjusted for inflation. The term "deficit" refers to the annual increase to the overall debt figures illustrated below. The figures in the table represent the end-of-year figures.
By way of example, the total deficit on in 2010 was just over $9,000 billion US Dollars (USD), or $9 trillion USD. When you divide this figure by 309 million, which is approximately the entire population of the United States that year, you are left with over $29,000 USD for every man, woman and child.
| Year | ||
| 1962 | $248.0 |  |
| 1963 | $254.0 | |
| 1964 | $256.8 | |
| 1965 | $260.8 | |
| 1966 | $263.7 | |
| 1967 | $266.6 | |
| 1968 | $289.5 | |
| 1969 | $278.1 | |
| 1970 | $283.2 | |
| 1971 | $303.0 | |
| 1972 | $322.4 | |
| 1973 | $340.9 | |
| 1974 | $343.7 | |
| 1975 | $394.7 | |
| 1976 | $477.4 | |
| 1977 | $549.1 | |
| 1978 | $607.1 | |
| 1979 | $640.3 | |
| 1980 | $711.9 | |
| 1981 | $789.4 | |
| 1982 | $924.6 | |
| 1983 | $1,137.3 | |
| 1984 | $1,307.0 | |
| 1985 | $1,507.3 | |
| 1986 | $1,740.6 | |
| 1987 | $1,889.8 | |
| 1988 | $2,051.6 | |
| 1989 | $2,190.7 | |
| 1990 | $2,411.6 | |
| 1991 | $2,689.0 | |
| 1992 | $2,999.7 | |
| 1993 | $3,248.4 | |
| 1994 | $3,433.1 | |
| 1995 | $3,604.4 | |
| 1996 | $3,734.1 | |
| 1997 | $3,772.3 | |
| 1998 | $3,721.1 | |
| 1999 | $3,632.4 | |
| 2000 | $3,409.8 | |
| 2001 | $3,319.6 | |
| 2002 | $3,540.4 | |
| 2003 | $3,913.4 | |
| 2004 | $4,295.5 | |
| 2005 | $4,592.2 | |
| 2006 | $4,828.9 | |
| 2007 | $5,035.1 | |
| 2008 | $5,803.1 | |
| 2009 | $7,544 | |
| 2010 | $9,023 | |
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![As of 2010, the U.S. debt was equal to about $29,000 for every person in the country.]()
By: sborisovAs of 2010, the U.S. debt was equal to about $29,000 for every person in the country.
Discussion Comments
The debt degree of young American adults -- those under the age of 35 -- has taken a steep dive in the last ten years or so, according to a brand new study. Normally, that would sound like great news for the economy. In fact, however, it indicates a very troubling craze. The reason that debt has fallen so sharply is because today's young adults have too few assets to consider taking on new loans.
You fail to take into account debt held by agencies and trust.
he means for a fiscal year I think.
The national debt is currently at over 12.5 trillion. When you adjust it for CPI, the chart shows debt has increased dramatically in last few years. Debt to GDP stands to be 100% in 2012, higher than the debt to GDP when Truman was president.
What a load of crap. When inflation is considered and when the debt is compared to GDP, the graph will look very different.
Why is associated press writer, Martin Crutsinger, stating today that deficit has topped trillion dollars for FIRST time?
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