The US national debt has reached significant milestones, with various sources reporting different figures. Here's a breakdown of the current state of the US national debt:

- *Total Public Debt*: As of Q1 2025, the total public debt stands at $36.214 trillion, according to the US Department of the Treasury. However, another source indicates the total national debt is around $36.2 trillion as of May 2025.

- *Per-Person Debt*: The federal debt per person is approximately $106,000, based on 2024 population data and a total debt of $36.2 trillion.

- *Debt-to-GDP Ratio*: The debt-to-GDP ratio is around 121%, indicating a significant burden on the nation's economy. Some sources report a higher ratio of 139.89% with a GDP of $20.937 trillion.

- *Interest Payments*: Annual interest payments on the debt are substantial, with estimates ranging from $227.417 billion to over $1 trillion in future projections, with interest payments consuming a significant portion of government spending.

- *Ownership*: The majority of US debt is held by domestic investors, including US citizens, banks, and financial institutions, while foreign countries like Japan and China also hold significant amounts of US Treasury securities.

The US national debt continues to grow, driven by factors such as ¹ ² ³:

- *Deficit Spending*: When annual expenses exceed revenues.

- *Major Events*: Wars, economic recessions, and pandemic relief packages contribute to the growth of national debt.

- *Interest on Existing Debt*: Compound interest on existing debt adds to the overall debt burden.