Total public debt outstanding, United States
Total public debt outstanding was $40,171.8 bn in September 2026, down 0.0% from August 2026 and up 6.7% from a year earlier. The figure is published by U.S. Department of the Treasury in Debt to the Penny. The series starts in January 2006 and has 249 observations. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- On the previous reading (August 2026): down 0.0%, to $40,171.8 bn
- On a year earlier (September 2025): up 6.7%
- Against the five-year average of $34,427.4 bn: above
Sparklines: the last ten years; the amber dot marks the reading in the tile. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Treasury.
Overview
Over the last five years the series ranged from $28,428.9 bn (September 2021) to $40,175.6 bn (August 2026). Since January 2006 the full range is $8,196.1 bn (January 2006) to $40,175.6 bn (August 2026).
Key facts
| Reading | Period | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | September 2026 | $40,171.8 bn |
| Previous | August 2026 | $40,175.6 bn |
| A year earlier | September 2025 | $37,637.6 bn |
| Five-year high | August 2026 | $40,175.6 bn |
| Five-year low | September 2021 | $28,428.9 bn |
| First observation | January 2006 | $8,196.1 bn |
Unit: USD. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Treasury.
How has it moved since January 2006?
Full history
- Total public debt outstanding $40,172bn
Last five years
- Total public debt outstanding $40,172bn
Latest readings
| Period | Value | Change from previous |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | $37,637.6 bn | +1.0% |
| October 2025 | $38,040.1 bn | +1.1% |
| November 2025 | $38,396.2 bn | +0.9% |
| December 2025 | $38,514.0 bn | +0.3% |
| January 2026 | $38,521.4 bn | +0.0% |
| February 2026 | $38,769.8 bn | +0.6% |
| March 2026 | $39,065.4 bn | +0.8% |
| April 2026 | $38,967.8 bn | -0.2% |
| May 2026 | $39,207.8 bn | +0.6% |
| June 2026 | $39,462.4 bn | +0.6% |
| July 2026 | $39,771.6 bn | +0.8% |
| August 2026 | $40,175.6 bn | +1.0% |
| September 2026 | $40,171.8 bn | 0.0% |
How does the latest reading compare?
The latest reading of $40,171.8 bn in September 2026 is above its five-year average of $34,427.4 bn and above its ten-year average of $28,787.7 bn. It is higher than 100% of all 249 readings since January 2006. The fall in September 2026 ended a run in the other direction or a flat reading. Over the last 12 readings, from October 2025 to September 2026, it averaged $39,088.7 bn, with a high of $40,175.6 bn in August 2026 and a low of $38,040.1 bn in October 2025. In the last ten years the largest rise from one reading to the next was in April 2020, to $24,974.2 bn from $23,686.9 bn in March 2020, and the largest fall was in March 2017, to $19,846.4 bn from $19,959.6 bn in February 2017.
Among the last 9 complete years, the average was highest in 2025, at $37,006.1 bn, and lowest in 2017, at $20,061.7 bn.
Year by year
| Year | Average | Low | High | Last reading | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,346.0 bn | $38,521.4 bn | $40,175.6 bn | $40,171.8 bn September 2026 | 9 |
| 2025 | $37,006.1 bn | $36,211.5 bn | $38,514.0 bn | $38,514.0 bn December 2025 | 12 |
| 2024 | $35,120.6 bn | $34,191.2 bn | $36,218.6 bn | $36,218.6 bn December 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | $32,491.4 bn | $31,455.0 bn | $34,001.5 bn | $34,001.5 bn December 2023 | 12 |
| 2022 | $30,723.1 bn | $30,012.4 bn | $31,419.7 bn | $31,419.7 bn December 2022 | 12 |
| 2021 | $28,453.4 bn | $27,784.6 bn | $29,617.2 bn | $29,617.2 bn December 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | $25,837.3 bn | $23,223.8 bn | $27,747.8 bn | $27,747.8 bn December 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | $22,391.0 bn | $21,982.4 bn | $23,201.4 bn | $23,201.4 bn December 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | $21,305.2 bn | $20,493.7 bn | $21,974.1 bn | $21,974.1 bn December 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | $20,061.7 bn | $19,844.5 bn | $20,590.4 bn | $20,492.7 bn December 2017 | 12 |
Averages, lows and highs are calculated by EconoMonitor from the published readings. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Treasury.
How is it measured?
Total public debt outstanding on the last reported day of the month.
Total public debt outstanding is published monthly by U.S. Department of the Treasury in its Debt to the Penny release. It is measured in USD and is not seasonally adjusted. EconoMonitor holds all 249 readings since January 2006 under the publisher's code tot_pub_debt_out_amt, keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them, and compares each release with the downloaded file before it is shown.
Related measures on this site: debt held by the public was $32,425.0 bn in September 2026.
- Frequency: monthly; seasonal adjustment: NSA.
- Unit: USD.
- Release: Debt to the Penny, published by U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- Source series code: tot_pub_debt_out_amt.
- Methodology: how EconoMonitor stores and checks this series.
Questions and sources
What is the latest reading of Total public debt outstanding?
$40,171.8 bn in September 2026, as published by U.S. Department of the Treasury.
How often is it updated?
Monthly, with each Debt to the Penny release. EconoMonitor reloads the series after each release and keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them.
Where can I check it?
At the publisher: U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data and daily Treasury yield curve, series code tot_pub_debt_out_amt.
Definitions of the other measures quoted on this page: Debt held by the public (US).
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Treasury. Checks for this release: Check A passed, Check B passed.
Data and analysis only, not financial advice. Data publishers do not endorse EconoMonitor. See the disclaimer and methodology.