The Data

Where the U.S.
Stands Today

The numbers behind the debt cycle. Real data points that illustrate why this matters right now.

Headline Numbers
$36.2T
Debt held by public
~100% of GDP. Highest since WWII. Gross debt: $38.5T.
$970B
Interest paid in FY2025
Now exceeds defense spending ($917B). Projected to hit $1T in FY2026 and $1.8T by 2035.
30%
Share of debt held by foreigners
Down from 43% in 2014. Foreign share declining as debt grows faster than foreign appetite.
$4,000+/oz
Gold price (late 2025)
Up ~55% YTD. Central banks bought 863 tonnes in 2025. 43% plan to increase gold holdings.
FY2025 Federal spending (where your taxes go)
Social Security
$1.46T
Medicare
$980B
Net Interest
$970B
Defense
$917B
Medicaid
$668B
Everything else
$1.0T
China's U.S. Treasury holdings (declining trend)
Nov 2013 (peak)
$1.32T
Dec 2020
$1.10T
Dec 2024
$0.76T
Oct 2025
$0.69T
Sources: U.S. Treasury, CBO, Congressional Research Service, World Gold Council, AAF, PGPF
Data as of late 2025. Figures are approximate.