This graph shows the statutory debt limit on federal debt of the United States of America from 1940 to 2018. On September 8, 2017 the debt limit was raised to 20.46 trillion U.S. dollars.
Statutory limits on Federal debt of the United States from 1940 to 2018
(in billion U.S. dollars)
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.
***Suspended the existing debt limit from November 2, 2015, through March 15, 2017, and prospectively increased the limit to accommodate the increase in such debt outstanding as of March 16, 2017.
**** Suspended the existing debt limit from September 8, 2017, through December 8, 2017, and prospectively increased the limit to accommodate the increase in such debt outstanding as of December 9, 2017.
***** Suspended the existing debt limit from February 9, 2018, through March 1, 2019, and prospectively increased the limit to accommodate the increase in such debt outstanding as of March 1, 2019.
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US Office of Management and Budget. (March 18, 2019). Statutory limits on Federal debt of the United States from 1940 to 2018 (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 22, 2020, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
US Office of Management and Budget. "Statutory limits on Federal debt of the United States from 1940 to 2018 (in billion U.S. dollars)." Chart. March 18, 2019. Statista. Accessed February 22, 2020. https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
US Office of Management and Budget. (2019). Statutory limits on Federal debt of the United States from 1940 to 2018 (in billion U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 22, 2020. https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
US Office of Management and Budget. "Statutory Limits on Federal Debt of The United States from 1940 to 2018 (in Billion U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 18 Mar 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
US Office of Management and Budget, Statutory limits on Federal debt of the United States from 1940 to 2018 (in billion U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/ (last visited February 22, 2020)
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