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The total amount of funds that the federal government has borrowed over the years and not yet repaid.
SOURCE: Federal Reserve Bank of New York
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See also: FAQ: Is there a limit on the national debt?; FAQ: What practical impact does the national debt have?
See all terms in the National Debt Glossary
Frequently Asked Questions: National Debt
- How did the national debt get to be so big?
- What's the difference between the debt and the deficit?
- Why can't the government just print more money to get out of debt?
- How much U.S. debt is owned by foreign countries?
See all questions about the national debt. >>
