This graph shows the statutory debt limit on federal debt of the United States of America from 1940 to 2017. On September 8, 2017 the debt limit was raised to 20.46 trillion U.S. dollars.
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Federal debt limit of the United States 1940-2017
Statutory limits on Federal debt of the United States from 1940 to 2017 (in billion U.S. dollars)
This graph shows the statutory debt limit on federal debt of the United States of America from 1940 to 2017. On September 8, 2017 the debt limit was raised to 20.46 trillion U.S. dollars.
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| Year | Debt limit in billion U.S. dollars |
|---|---|
| 1940 (June) | 49 |
| 1945 (April) | 300 |
| 1954 (August) | 281 |
| 1960 (June) | 293 |
| 1965 (June) | 328 |
| 1970 (June) | 395 |
| 1975 (November) | 595 |
| 1980 (December) | 935.1 |
| 1985 (December) | 2,078.7 |
| 1990 (November) | 4,145 |
| 1996 (March) | 5,500 |
| 2002 (June) | 6,400 |
| 2006 (March) | 8,965 |
| 2010 (February) | 14,294 |
| 2011 (August)* | 16,394 |
| 2013 (February) - Suspended** | 16,699.4 |
| 2015 (November) - Suspended*** | 18,113 |
| 2017 (March) - Suspended*** | 19,808.8 |
| 2017 (September) | 20,456 |
| Year | Debt limit in billion U.S. dollars |
|---|---|
| 1940 (June) | 49 |
| 1945 (April) | 300 |
| 1954 (August) | 281 |
| 1960 (June) | 293 |
| 1965 (June) | 328 |
| 1970 (June) | 395 |
| 1975 (November) | 595 |
| 1980 (December) | 935.1 |
| 1985 (December) | 2,078.7 |
| 1990 (November) | 4,145 |
| 1996 (March) | 5,500 |
| 2002 (June) | 6,400 |
| 2006 (March) | 8,965 |
| 2010 (February) | 14,294 |
| 2011 (August)* | 16,394 |
| 2013 (February) - Suspended** | 16,699.4 |
| 2015 (November) - Suspended*** | 18,113 |
| 2017 (March) - Suspended*** | 19,808.8 |
| 2017 (September) | 20,456 |
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This graph shows the statutory debt limit on federal debt of the United States of America from 1940 to 2017. On September 8, 2017 the debt limit was raised to 20.46 trillion U.S. dollars.
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- Release date
- May 2018
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1940 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
-
The fiscal year for the U.S. Government starts in Oct. 1. The annual amount of public debt outstanding is therefore drawn on September 30 each year.
Not all changes in debt limit could be covered in this statistic. Only selected years are shown to provide a general understanding.
* Effective after January 27, 2012.
**Suspended the existing debt limit from February 4, 2013, through May 18, 2013, and prospectively increased the limit to accommodate the increase in such debt outstanding as of May 19, 2013. Effective after May 19, 2013.
***Suspended the existing debt limit from October 17, 2013, through February 7, 2014, and prospectively increased the limit to accommodate the increase in such debt outstanding as of February 8, 2014. Effective after February 8, 2014.
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1940 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
-
The fiscal year for the U.S. Government starts in Oct. 1. The annual amount of public debt outstanding is therefore drawn on September 30 each year.
Not all changes in debt limit could be covered in this statistic. Only selected years are shown to provide a general understanding.
* Effective after January 27, 2012.
**Suspended the existing debt limit from February 4, 2013, through May 18, 2013, and prospectively increased the limit to accommodate the increase in such debt outstanding as of May 19, 2013. Effective after May 19, 2013.
***Suspended the existing debt limit from October 17, 2013, through February 7, 2014, and prospectively increased the limit to accommodate the increase in such debt outstanding as of February 8, 2014. Effective after February 8, 2014.
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