US national debt reaches 100% of GDP
The gist
US publicly held debt reached $32.2 trillion, equal to 100.03% of GDP for the fiscal year ended Sept.
The milestone revives questions about how much government borrowing the economy can absorb.
How it unfolded
- Sep 30, 2026U.S. national debt reached 100% of GDP for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the first time since 1946; publicly held debt stood at $32.2 trillion, equal to 100.03% of fiscal-year GDP.
- Oct 26, 2026Commentary noted that stripping out debt one federal agency owes another, federal debt-to-GDP is around 100%, versus about 60% in 2010.
- Oct 27, 2026A Visual Capitalist ranking put U.S. government debt at 126.8% of GDP in 2026, with federal net interest payments projected to reach $1 trillion in 2026 and more than double by 2036.