The debt levels of the United States government have increased significantly over the last few decades. The last time the debt ceiling was raised was in December, 2021. In this year, the ceiling was raised to 31.38 trillion U.S. dollars. Just three months prior, in October 2021, the federal debt limit was at 28.9 trillion U.S. dollars. The monthly debt level of the United States can be accessed here.
In May 2023, after the passing of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, the debt limit was suspended until January 1, 2025.
Statutory limits on the federal debt of the United States from 1983 to 2021
(in billion U.S. dollars)
Year
Statutory debt limit in billion U.S. dollars
Dec, 2021
31,381.5
Oct, 2021
28,881.5
Aug, 2021
28,401.5
Aug, 2019**
21,987.7
Mar, 2019
21,987.7
Feb, 2018**
20,465
Dec, 2017
20,456
Sep, 2017**
19,808.8
Mar, 2017
19,808.8
Nov, 2015**
18,113
Mar, 2015
18,113
Feb, 2014**
17,211.6
Feb, 2014
17,211.6
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05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,000
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US Office of Management and Budget. (March 28, 2022). Statutory limits on the federal debt of the United States from 1983 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
US Office of Management and Budget. "Statutory limits on the federal debt of the United States from 1983 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)." Chart. March 28, 2022. Statista. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
US Office of Management and Budget. (2022). Statutory limits on the federal debt of the United States from 1983 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 31, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
US Office of Management and Budget. "Statutory Limits on The Federal Debt of The United States from 1983 to 2021 (in Billion U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Mar 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
US Office of Management and Budget, Statutory limits on the federal debt of the United States from 1983 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/ (last visited March 31, 2025)
Statutory limits on the federal debt of the United States from 1983 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph], US Office of Management and Budget, March 28, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/246405/federal-debt-limit-of-the-united-states/
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