U.S. National Debt Surpasses $40.5 Trillion, Driven by Rising Costs and Interest Payments
The U.S. gross national debt has exceeded $40.5 trillion as of November 4, 2026, marking a $2.46 trillion increase over the past year and an $11.64 trillion rise over the last five years, according to the Joint Economic Committee (JEC). The JEC's November 6 Monthly Debt Update indicates that approximately $32.77 trillion of this debt is publicly held, with an additional $7.79 trillion in intragovernmental debt. The debt has been growing at an average rate of $6.75 billion per day over the past year. This increase translates to roughly $7,190 per American and $18,241 per household over the last 12 months. Rising interest rates on federal borrowing are a significant factor, with the average interest rate on marketable Treasury debt reaching 3.570% in October 2026, up from 3.393% a year prior. The federal government paid approximately $291.75 billion in interest to federal trust funds over the past year.
