The current U.S. national debt is $36.22 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data. This represents the total amount of outstanding borrowing by the Federal Government. The debt has been steadily increasing, and the debt-to-GDP ratio is currently at 123 percent, meaning the debt is larger than the country's total economic output.
In terms of total external debt, the United States holds the highest amount, exceeding $25.8 trillion in 2025. While Japan has a high debt-to-GDP ratio, the US surpasses it in terms of overall debt.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
US has a massive external debt, primarily due to government borrowing, corporate loans, and trade deficits.
Japan has a high public debt-to-GDP ratio, indicating a significant amount of debt relative to its economic output.
Several other countries, such as those in the European Union, the UK, France, and Germany, also have substantial debt levels.
While the US has the highest total external debt, some countries, like Sudan and Japan, have higher debt relative to their GDP.