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The national debt
The National Debt by President
The total public debt when each presidential term began and ended, and how much it changed in between, from the Treasury's records.
Donald Trump, term began Jan 20, 2025$36.21 trillionTreasury figure for Jan 17, 2025
Latest Treasury figure$40.55 trillionNov 6, 2026
Change so far in this term+$4.35 trillion+12.0%
Every term since 1789
| President | Term | Debt at the start | Debt at the end | Change | Change, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump Republican | Jan 20, 2025 to present to date | $36.21 trillion Jan 17, 2025 | $40.55 trillion Nov 6, 2026 | +$4.35 trillion | +12.0% |
| Joe Biden Democratic | Jan 20, 2021 to Jan 20, 2025 | $27.75 trillion Jan 20, 2021 | $36.21 trillion Jan 17, 2025 | +$8.45 trillion | +30.5% |
| Donald Trump Republican | Jan 20, 2017 to Jan 20, 2021 | $19.95 trillion Jan 20, 2017 | $27.75 trillion Jan 20, 2021 | +$7.80 trillion | +39.1% |
| Barack Obama Democratic | Jan 20, 2013 to Jan 20, 2017 | $16.43 trillion Jan 18, 2013 | $19.95 trillion Jan 20, 2017 | +$3.51 trillion | +21.4% |
| Barack Obama Democratic | Jan 20, 2009 to Jan 20, 2013 | $10.63 trillion Jan 20, 2009 | $16.43 trillion Jan 18, 2013 | +$5.81 trillion | +54.6% |
| George W. Bush Republican | Jan 20, 2005 to Jan 20, 2009 | $7.61 trillion Jan 20, 2005 | $10.63 trillion Jan 20, 2009 | +$3.01 trillion | +39.6% |
| George W. Bush Republican | Jan 20, 2001 to Jan 20, 2005 | $5.73 trillion Jan 19, 2001 | $7.61 trillion Jan 20, 2005 | +$1.89 trillion | +32.9% |
| Bill Clinton Democratic | Jan 20, 1997 to Jan 20, 2001 | $5.31 trillion Jan 17, 1997 | $5.73 trillion Jan 19, 2001 | +$418.0 billion | +7.9% |
| Bill Clinton Democratic | Jan 20, 1993 to Jan 20, 1997 | $4.06 trillion Sep 30, 1992 annual | $5.31 trillion Jan 17, 1997 | +$1.25 trillion | +30.6% |
| George H. W. Bush Republican | Jan 20, 1989 to Jan 20, 1993 | $2.60 trillion Sep 30, 1988 annual | $4.06 trillion Sep 30, 1992 annual | +$1.46 trillion | +56.2% |
| Ronald Reagan Republican | Jan 20, 1985 to Jan 20, 1989 | $1.57 trillion Sep 30, 1984 annual | $2.60 trillion Sep 30, 1988 annual | +$1.03 trillion | +65.5% |
| Ronald Reagan Republican | Jan 20, 1981 to Jan 20, 1985 | $907.7 billion Sep 30, 1980 annual | $1.57 trillion Sep 30, 1984 annual | +$664.6 billion | +73.2% |
| Jimmy Carter Democratic | Jan 20, 1977 to Jan 20, 1981 | $620.4 billion Jun 30, 1976 annual | $907.7 billion Sep 30, 1980 annual | +$287.3 billion | +46.3% |
| Gerald Ford Republican | Aug 9, 1974 to Jan 20, 1977 | $475.1 billion Jun 30, 1974 annual | $620.4 billion Jun 30, 1976 annual | +$145.4 billion | +30.6% |
| Richard Nixon Republican | Jan 20, 1973 to Aug 9, 1974 | $458.1 billion Jun 30, 1973 annual | $475.1 billion Jun 30, 1974 annual | +$16.9 billion | +3.7% |
| Richard Nixon Republican | Jan 20, 1969 to Jan 20, 1973 | $353.7 billion Jun 30, 1969 annual | $458.1 billion Jun 30, 1973 annual | +$104.4 billion | +29.5% |
| Lyndon B. Johnson Democratic | Jan 20, 1965 to Jan 20, 1969 | $317.3 billion Jun 30, 1965 annual | $353.7 billion Jun 30, 1969 annual | +$36.4 billion | +11.5% |
| Lyndon B. Johnson Democratic | Nov 22, 1963 to Jan 20, 1965 | $305.9 billion Jun 30, 1963 annual | $317.3 billion Jun 30, 1965 annual | +$11.4 billion | +3.7% |
| John F. Kennedy Democratic | Jan 20, 1961 to Nov 22, 1963 | $289.0 billion Jun 30, 1961 annual | $305.9 billion Jun 30, 1963 annual | +$16.9 billion | +5.8% |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican | Jan 20, 1957 to Jan 20, 1961 | $270.5 billion Jun 30, 1957 annual | $289.0 billion Jun 30, 1961 annual | +$18.4 billion | +6.8% |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican | Jan 20, 1953 to Jan 20, 1957 | $266.1 billion Jun 30, 1953 annual | $270.5 billion Jun 30, 1957 annual | +$4.5 billion | +1.7% |
| Harry S. Truman Democratic | Jan 20, 1949 to Jan 20, 1953 | $252.8 billion Jun 30, 1949 annual | $266.1 billion Jun 30, 1953 annual | +$13.3 billion | +5.3% |
| Harry S. Truman Democratic | Apr 12, 1945 to Jan 20, 1949 | $258.7 billion Jun 30, 1945 annual | $252.8 billion Jun 30, 1949 annual | -$5.9 billion | -2.3% |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic | Jan 20, 1945 to Apr 12, 1945 | $258.7 billion Jun 30, 1945 annual | $258.7 billion Jun 30, 1945 annual | +$0 | +0.0% |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic | Jan 20, 1941 to Jan 20, 1945 | $49.0 billion Jun 30, 1941 annual | $258.7 billion Jun 30, 1945 annual | +$209.7 billion | +428.3% |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic | Jan 20, 1937 to Jan 20, 1941 | $36.4 billion Jun 30, 1937 annual | $49.0 billion Jun 30, 1941 annual | +$12.5 billion | +34.4% |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic | Mar 4, 1933 to Jan 20, 1937 | $22.5 billion Jun 30, 1933 annual | $36.4 billion Jun 30, 1937 annual | +$13.9 billion | +61.6% |
| Herbert Hoover Republican | Mar 4, 1929 to Mar 4, 1933 | $16.9 billion Jun 29, 1929 annual | $22.5 billion Jun 30, 1933 annual | +$5.6 billion | +33.1% |
| Calvin Coolidge Republican | Mar 4, 1925 to Mar 4, 1929 | $20.5 billion Jun 30, 1925 annual | $16.9 billion Jun 29, 1929 annual | -$3.6 billion | -17.5% |
| Calvin Coolidge Republican | Aug 2, 1923 to Mar 4, 1925 | $22.3 billion Jun 30, 1923 annual | $20.5 billion Jun 30, 1925 annual | -$1.8 billion | -8.2% |
| Warren G. Harding Republican | Mar 4, 1921 to Aug 2, 1923 | $24.0 billion Jun 30, 1921 annual | $22.3 billion Jun 30, 1923 annual | -$1.6 billion | -6.8% |
| Woodrow Wilson Democratic | Mar 4, 1917 to Mar 4, 1921 | $5.7 billion Jul 1, 1917 annual | $24.0 billion Jun 30, 1921 annual | +$18.3 billion | +319.3% |
| Woodrow Wilson Democratic | Mar 4, 1913 to Mar 4, 1917 | $2.9 billion Jul 1, 1913 annual | $5.7 billion Jul 1, 1917 annual | +$2.8 billion | +96.1% |
| William Howard Taft Republican | Mar 4, 1909 to Mar 4, 1913 | $2.6 billion Jul 1, 1909 annual | $2.9 billion Jul 1, 1913 annual | +$276.7 million | +10.5% |
| Theodore Roosevelt Republican | Mar 4, 1905 to Mar 4, 1909 | $2.3 billion Jul 1, 1905 annual | $2.6 billion Jul 1, 1909 annual | +$364.9 million | +16.0% |
| Theodore Roosevelt Republican | Sep 14, 1901 to Mar 4, 1905 | $2.1 billion Jul 1, 1901 annual | $2.3 billion Jul 1, 1905 annual | +$131.3 million | +6.1% |
| William McKinley Republican | Mar 4, 1901 to Sep 14, 1901 | $2.1 billion Jul 1, 1901 annual | $2.1 billion Jul 1, 1901 annual | +$0 | +0.0% |
| William McKinley Republican | Mar 4, 1897 to Mar 4, 1901 | $1.8 billion Jul 1, 1897 annual | $2.1 billion Jul 1, 1901 annual | +$325.7 million | +17.9% |
| Grover Cleveland Democratic | Mar 4, 1893 to Mar 4, 1897 | $1.5 billion Jul 1, 1893 annual | $1.8 billion Jul 1, 1897 annual | +$271.7 million | +17.6% |
| Benjamin Harrison Republican | Mar 4, 1889 to Mar 4, 1893 | $1.6 billion Jul 1, 1889 annual | $1.5 billion Jul 1, 1893 annual | -$73.1 million | -4.5% |
| Grover Cleveland Democratic | Mar 4, 1885 to Mar 4, 1889 | $1.9 billion Jul 1, 1885 annual | $1.6 billion Jul 1, 1889 annual | -$244.9 million | -13.1% |
| Chester A. Arthur Republican | Sep 19, 1881 to Mar 4, 1885 | $2.1 billion Jul 1, 1881 annual | $1.9 billion Jul 1, 1885 annual | -$205.0 million | -9.9% |
| James A. Garfield Republican | Mar 4, 1881 to Sep 19, 1881 | $2.1 billion Jul 1, 1881 annual | $2.1 billion Jul 1, 1881 annual | +$0 | +0.0% |
| Rutherford B. Hayes Republican | Mar 4, 1877 to Mar 4, 1881 | $2.2 billion Jul 1, 1877 annual | $2.1 billion Jul 1, 1881 annual | -$136.3 million | -6.2% |
| Ulysses S. Grant Republican | Mar 4, 1873 to Mar 4, 1877 | $2.2 billion Jul 1, 1873 annual | $2.2 billion Jul 1, 1877 annual | -$29.2 million | -1.3% |
| Ulysses S. Grant Republican | Mar 4, 1869 to Mar 4, 1873 | $2.6 billion Jul 1, 1869 annual | $2.2 billion Jul 1, 1873 annual | -$354.0 million | -13.7% |
| Andrew Johnson National Union | Apr 15, 1865 to Mar 4, 1869 | $2.7 billion Jul 1, 1865 annual | $2.6 billion Jul 1, 1869 annual | -$92.2 million | -3.4% |
| Abraham Lincoln Republican | Mar 4, 1865 to Apr 15, 1865 | $2.7 billion Jul 1, 1865 annual | $2.7 billion Jul 1, 1865 annual | +$0 | +0.0% |
| Abraham Lincoln Republican | Mar 4, 1861 to Mar 4, 1865 | $90.6 million Jul 1, 1861 annual | $2.7 billion Jul 1, 1865 annual | +$2.6 billion | +2,859.4% |
| James Buchanan Democratic | Mar 4, 1857 to Mar 4, 1861 | $28.7 million Jul 1, 1857 annual | $90.6 million Jul 1, 1861 annual | +$61.9 million | +215.6% |
| Franklin Pierce Democratic | Mar 4, 1853 to Mar 4, 1857 | $59.8 million Jul 1, 1853 annual | $28.7 million Jul 1, 1857 annual | -$31.1 million | -52.0% |
| Millard Fillmore Whig | Jul 9, 1850 to Mar 4, 1853 | $63.5 million Jul 1, 1850 annual | $59.8 million Jul 1, 1853 annual | -$3.6 million | -5.8% |
| Zachary Taylor Whig | Mar 5, 1849 to Jul 9, 1850 | $63.1 million Jul 1, 1849 annual | $63.5 million Jul 1, 1850 annual | +$390,915 | +0.6% |
| James K. Polk Democratic | Mar 4, 1845 to Mar 5, 1849 | $15.9 million Jul 1, 1845 annual | $63.1 million Jul 1, 1849 annual | +$47.1 million | +296.0% |
| John Tyler Whig | Apr 4, 1841 to Mar 4, 1845 | $5.3 million Jan 1, 1841 annual | $15.9 million Jul 1, 1845 annual | +$10.7 million | +203.3% |
| William Henry Harrison Whig | Mar 4, 1841 to Apr 4, 1841 | $5.3 million Jan 1, 1841 annual | $5.3 million Jan 1, 1841 annual | +$0 | +0.0% |
| Martin Van Buren Democratic | Mar 4, 1837 to Mar 4, 1841 | $336,958 Jan 1, 1837 annual | $5.3 million Jan 1, 1841 annual | +$4.9 million | +1,458.3% |
| Andrew Jackson Democratic | Mar 4, 1833 to Mar 4, 1837 | $7.0 million Jan 1, 1833 annual | $336,958 Jan 1, 1837 annual | -$6.7 million | -95.2% |
| Andrew Jackson Democratic | Mar 4, 1829 to Mar 4, 1833 | $58.4 million Jan 1, 1829 annual | $7.0 million Jan 1, 1833 annual | -$51.4 million | -88.0% |
| John Quincy Adams Democratic-Republican | Mar 4, 1825 to Mar 4, 1829 | $83.8 million Jan 1, 1825 annual | $58.4 million Jan 1, 1829 annual | -$25.4 million | -30.3% |
| James Monroe Democratic-Republican | Mar 5, 1821 to Mar 4, 1825 | $90.0 million Jan 1, 1821 annual | $83.8 million Jan 1, 1825 annual | -$6.2 million | -6.9% |
| James Monroe Democratic-Republican | Mar 4, 1817 to Mar 5, 1821 | $123.5 million Jan 1, 1817 annual | $90.0 million Jan 1, 1821 annual | -$33.5 million | -27.1% |
| James Madison Democratic-Republican | Mar 4, 1813 to Mar 4, 1817 | $56.0 million Jan 1, 1813 annual | $123.5 million Jan 1, 1817 annual | +$67.5 million | +120.7% |
| James Madison Democratic-Republican | Mar 4, 1809 to Mar 4, 1813 | $57.0 million Jan 1, 1809 annual | $56.0 million Jan 1, 1813 annual | -$1.1 million | -1.9% |
| Thomas Jefferson Democratic-Republican | Mar 4, 1805 to Mar 4, 1809 | $82.3 million Jan 1, 1805 annual | $57.0 million Jan 1, 1809 annual | -$25.3 million | -30.7% |
| Thomas Jefferson Democratic-Republican | Mar 4, 1801 to Mar 4, 1805 | $83.0 million Jan 1, 1801 annual | $82.3 million Jan 1, 1805 annual | -$725,900 | -0.9% |
| John Adams Federalist | Mar 4, 1797 to Mar 4, 1801 | $82.1 million Jan 1, 1797 annual | $83.0 million Jan 1, 1801 annual | +$973,571 | +1.2% |
| George Washington Unaffiliated | Mar 4, 1793 to Mar 4, 1797 | $80.4 million Jan 1, 1793 annual | $82.1 million Jan 1, 1797 annual | +$1.7 million | +2.1% |
| George Washington Unaffiliated | Apr 30, 1789 to Mar 4, 1793 | $71.1 million Jan 1, 1790 annual | $80.4 million Jan 1, 1793 annual | +$9.3 million | +13.1% |
From April 1, 1993 the figures are the Treasury's daily totals (Debt to the Penny) on the start or end date, or the last business day before it. Before that the Treasury has only one figure a year, so a date marked annual is the nearest annual figure (January 1 to 1842, the end of the fiscal year after that) and can be months away from the term's actual start or end. A term cut short ends on the day the president died or resigned. Amounts are in current dollars, not adjusted for inflation. The change in a term reflects laws, economic conditions and spending commitments made before and during it, including by Congress.
Sources: U.S. Treasury, Debt to the Penny, U.S. Treasury, Historical Debt Outstanding, U.S. Senate, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Updated November 6, 2026. Term dates from the Senate's list of inaugural ceremonies; daily figure for November 6, 2026.