US Debt Burden Surpasses 1991 Record In Key Metric

[Economy 53,042]

https://fortune.com/2026/09/07/us-national-debt-interest-1-trillion-1991-bond-yields-scott-bessent/

 

The US debt which now surpasses $40T now costs $1.25T in debt interest alone. More than the Country spends on defence.

 

However the debt burden has hit a new record on a key metric - the percentage of the budget going towards interest on the debt

 

18.5% of tax revenue now must cover the interest. That surpasses the previous high in 1991 when it was 18.4%. In 1991 the debt was way lower at about 44% of GDP vs 120% now (100% if calculated only as Net Debt) but effective interest rates were much higher then

 

If rates were as high now as in 1991, most likely the US would already be in a full blown crisis

[PartySick 173,982]

That's it, bring Bill Clinton back

[River 128,450]

You're welcome, thank you for being a great ally

[Morphine Prince 109,859]

Thank you Trump

[skaxboy 7,058]

If it were a person, it’d be someone who lives in a lovely home and drives a luxury car. Wears designer brands and likes to pay for others. Yet is in thousands of dollars in debt. 

[princedeeblebleble 3,769]

Call me stupid, but WHO are they in debt to?  I never got this bs.

[Red 99,376]

Don’t worry, re-naming the country to America America of America will solve this crisis 

[bxr 2,757]

Whew, well … credit [debt] where it‘s due—literally

That said:

Spoiler

Additionally … live footage of every generation since the Millennials:

[Bronco 27,265]

14 minutes ago, princedeeblebleble said:

Call me stupid, but WHO are they in debt to?  I never got this bs.

Governments sell bonds to fund spending beyond their total annual incomes. 

Those Government bonds are split between other countries and private investors. 

Its like one of the oldest forms of investments because if you do it with stable countries like the US, it was almost always the case you would get your money back + interest without issue. 

[gagzus 24,610]

tbh when i think about it is National Debt even a real thing. especially now digital money is a thing. 

[Bronco 27,265]

28 minutes ago, gagzus said:

tbh when i think about it is National Debt even a real thing. especially now digital money is a thing. 

Honestly, back when currencies were set by the gold standard it had actual value.

Now its just made up numbers.