What it Would Take to Pay off the Debt

U.S. debt held by the public is over $12 trillion, a 140 percent increase from six years ago.

To immediately pay off this debt, every person in the United States would have to contribute $38,000, equivalent to 76 percent of GDP per capita

and 136 percent of per capita income.

The debt held by the public is all federal debt held by individuals, corporations, state or local governments, Federal Reserve Banks, foreign governments, and other entities outside the United States Government.