Budget Barometer: 6 Key Debt Numbers
A good way to judge the national debt is as a share of the overall economy (or GDP).
Based on the latest figures from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), debt as a share of GDP is almost double the historical average, and could rise near record levels by the end of the decade.
| Debt Held By the Public | Debt as a Percent of GDP |
|---|---|
| Debt in 2007 (before the Great Recession) | 35% |
| 50-year historical average | 41% |
| Current level | 77% |
| Debt in 2028 (under current law) | 96% |
| Debt in 2028 (if lawmakers extend tax cuts and spending increases) | 105% |
| Record high (set right after World War II) | 106% |
For more, check out our recent analysis of CBO's numbers, or our Q&A explaining the difference between the gross national debt and the debt held by the public.
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