What country is #1 in debt?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

The United States holds the highest absolute national debt in the world, with total government debt exceeding tens of trillions of dollars. This massive public debt reflects decades of federal budget deficits, extensive domestic funding programs, and heavy issuance of Treasury securities held by global and domestic investors. When evaluated as a ratio relative to economic output, other nations like Japan carry higher debt-to-GDP percentages.

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