#USNationalDebt The U.S. national debt is a significant economic factor, representing the total amount of money the federal government owes to its lenders. As of May 2025, the U.S. national debt has reached over $36.2 trillion.

Here's a breakdown of key aspects:

Current State and Size:

* The national debt currently stands at approximately $36.2 trillion as of May 2025.

* This figure represents about 122% of the country's annual economic output (GDP).

* The debt is growing at a rate of roughly $1 trillion every three months.

* Interest payments on the debt are substantial, costing about $776 billion to maintain in fiscal year 2025, which is 16% of total federal spending. Experts anticipate interest costs could exceed $1 trillion before the decade is out and reach $1.8 trillion by 2035.

Components of the Debt:

The U.S. national debt is primarily composed of two categories:

* Debt Held by the Public: This includes Treasury securities (bills, notes, and bonds) held by individuals, corporations, state and local governments, the Federal Reserve, and foreign entities.

* Roughly three-quarters of the debt ($27.2 trillion) is held domestically.

* Of this, a significant portion ($15.16 trillion or 42%) is held by U.S. private investors and entities (savings bonds, mutual funds, pension funds).

* The Federal Reserve holds about $4.63 trillion (13%).