U.S. Debt by President: Dollar and Percentage

National debt is an extremely important issue for many American voters, and plays a significant role in their choice of president. This begs the question: how much of the U.S. national debt is each president responsible for, and which presidents increased the debt the most?

Over the past 60 years, several presidents have posted then-record budget deficits, including Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.

The U.S. national debt has continued to climb over the years as different national and global events affected debt and as each president’s budget reflected the administration’s priorities for the country. Here’s a look at how to measure debt by president and which U.S. presidents contributed the most to the nation’s overall debt.

One common way to measure a president’s impact on the national debt is by comparing the debt level at the start of their term to the level when they leave office. This approach helps calculate the percentage increase or decrease in debt during their administration, offering a snapshot of how fiscal policy shaped government borrowing.

However, it’s important to note that a president has limited influence over the national debt during their first year in office. That’s because the federal fiscal year ends on September 30, and the budget for that year is typically set by the previous administration. A new president’s budgetary impact begins with the next fiscal cycle, making year-one debt shifts more reflective of inherited policies than new ones.

How Presidential Decisions Shape Budget Deficits and National Debt

Presidential policies and government spending decisions play a major role in shaping the U.S. budget deficit and expanding the national debt. While Congress must approve spending, the president’s response to major events such as wars, recessions, or public health emergencies often drives large-scale fiscal shifts.

Historically, crisis response spending has led to significant debt increases. After the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush launched the War on Terror, including invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, which added trillions to the national debt over two decades. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden signed stimulus packages totaling over $4 trillion, including the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan, to stabilize the economy and support households.

From the 20th century onward, several U.S. presidents have contributed significantly to the national debt, each shaped by the crises and priorities of their time. President Franklin D. Roosevelt added an estimated $236 billion during his tenure, driven by New Deal programs and massive World War II spending. Woodrow Wilson increased debt by roughly $21 billion to fund World War I. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan added over $1.6 trillion through tax cuts, defense spending, and supply-side economic policies.

George W. Bush contributed around $4 trillion, largely due to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, tax cuts, and responses to the 2001 and 2008 recessions. Barack Obama added nearly $7.7 trillion, with stimulus packages and tax relief aimed at recovering from the Great Recession. Donald Trump’s first term saw an increase of approximately $7.8 trillion, driven by COVID-19 relief and tax cuts. Joe Biden added about $8.5 trillion during his presidency, with spending focused on pandemic recovery, infrastructure, and clean energy. As of October 2025, in his second term, Donald Trump has added roughly $1.65 trillion in just 254 days, following tax cut extensions and a raised debt ceiling projected to increase debt by $3.4 trillion over the next decade.

War funding is one of the most significant ways a president can increase the national debt. Prior to 1930, nearly all major budget deficits in U.S. history were tied to military conflicts. For example, the Civil War expanded the national debt from just $64.8 million in 1860 to over $2.6 billion by 1865.

During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw some of the largest deficits relative to GDP in American history. The federal government borrowed approximately $211 billion to finance the war effort, dramatically increasing the national debt.

In the early 2000s, President George W. Bush launched the War on Terror, including invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. By 2021, the total cost of these wars was estimated at around $8 trillion. These conflicts contributed significantly to the national debt not only during Bush’s presidency, but also under Presidents Obama and Trump (first term). The impact was reflected in the military budget, which reached a record $600 billion in 2009 as Bush left office.

Government Relief: Recessions and the Pandemic’s Fiscal Impact

Presidential responses to economic downturns and public health emergencies often involve large-scale government relief spending, which can significantly increase the national debt.

To combat the Great Recession of 2008, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in 2009. The $832 billion stimulus package aimed to create jobs, restore lost employment, and stabilize the economy through infrastructure investment, tax relief, and direct aid.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic triggered widespread business closures and unemployment, President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. At $2.2 trillion, it became the largest financial rescue package in U.S. history, authorizing direct payments of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child for qualifying households.

The following year, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021, allocating $1.9 trillion for continued pandemic recovery. The package included extended unemployment benefits, direct payments, Child Tax Credit enhancements, and funding for COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs.

Several U.S. presidents have overseen major increases in the national debt, often driven by war, recession recovery, or large-scale fiscal policy shifts. Here are the top five based on percentage increase during their time in office:

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945)

President Roosevelt oversaw the largest percentage increase in national debt in modern history. Entering office during the Great Depression, FDR launched the New Deal, a series of government-funded programs aimed at economic recovery. However, the most significant debt expansion came from World War II, with the U.S. borrowing over $211 billion to fund the war effort.

Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921)

Wilson’s presidency saw debt rise from $2.9 billion to $23.9 billion, largely due to World War I spending. His administration financed military operations and wartime logistics, marking one of the earliest modern surges in federal borrowing.

Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)

Reagan added over $1.6 trillion to the national debt. His supply-side economic policies included sweeping tax cuts, reduced social spending, and a 35% increase in defense funding. These moves were designed to stimulate growth but significantly expanded the deficit.

George W. Bush (2001–2009)

Bush added approximately $4 trillion to the debt. His administration launched the War on Terror, including invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and passed major tax cuts. The 2001 and 2008 recessions also prompted emergency spending and bailouts.

Barack Obama (2009–2017)

Obama added nearly $7.7 trillion to the national debt. His response to the Great Recession included the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ($832 billion) and $858 billion in tax cuts, aimed at stabilizing the economy and boosting consumer demand.

During President Biden’s term, the U.S. national debt rose by approximately $8.4 trillion, largely driven by COVID-19 relief spending. When President Trump began his second term on January 20, 2025, the debt stood at $36.22 trillion, according to U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data.

By October 1, 2025, gross federal debt had climbed to roughly $37.86 trillion, marking an increase of $1.65 trillion in Trump’s first 254 days in office. On September 30, the final day of FY2025, the Treasury reported a cumulative deficit of $1.97 trillion, though final figures were still pending.

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed H.R. 1, a reconciliation package that extended and expanded tax cuts. The Congressional Budget Office projected that the legislation paired with a $5 trillion debt ceiling increase to $41.1 trillion would add $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

The Debt Ceiling: Legislative Background

In January 2023, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that the government had reached its debt ceiling, the legal borrowing limit. To avoid default, the Treasury began using extraordinary measures until Congress could act.

After months of negotiation, a bipartisan deal was reached in June 2023, suspending the debt ceiling until 2025. In July 2025, Congress formally raised the ceiling by $5 trillion, passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which enabled further federal spending.

As of October 2025, the U.S. national debt has surpassed $37.9 trillion, according to the latest analysis. This figure reflects cumulative borrowing by the federal government to fund spending across decades including wars, stimulus packages, infrastructure investments, and entitlement programs.

By Total Dollar Amount:

The United States holds the highest gross national debt in the world, exceeding $37.9 trillion as of October 2025. This reflects decades of spending on wars, stimulus packages, infrastructure, healthcare, and entitlement programs.

By Debt-to-GDP Ratio:

Sudan currently has the highest debt-to-GDP ratio, with national debt equaling 252% of its GDP. This means Sudan owes more than double the value of its annual economic output. The country’s debt burden is driven by war, political instability, and the loss of oil revenues after South Sudan’s secession.

Other notable entries include:

• Lebanon: ~283% of GDP
• Japan: ~255% of GDP
• Singapore: ~168% of GDP
• Greece: ~142% of GDP

These ratios reflect how deeply indebted a country is relative to its economic size not just how much it owes in absolute terms.

By Percentage Increase:

Abraham Lincoln holds the record for the largest multiple increase in national debt. Between 1861 and 1865, the debt grew nearly 40-fold, largely due to Civil War spending.

Among modern presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt contributed the largest percentage increase in national debt. His administration expanded borrowing dramatically to fund New Deal programs and World War II, which required around $211 billion in wartime financing.

By Total Dollar Amount:

• Joe Biden: Added approximately $8.5 trillion during his presidency, driven by pandemic recovery, infrastructure investment, and clean energy initiatives.
• Donald Trump (1st term): Added about $7.8 trillion, largely due to the CARES Act, tax cuts, and emergency COVID-19 spending.
• Barack Obama: Added nearly $7.7 trillion, with major contributions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and tax relief during the Great Recession.

Presidents play a major role in shaping the U.S. national debt, allocating government funds toward policies and programs that reflect their administration’s priorities. From stimulus packages to military spending, presidential decisions influence how much is spent and how much is borrowed.

However, Congress shares fiscal responsibility. All major spending initiatives must pass through appropriations votes, and lawmakers can introduce their own proposals. No spending becomes law without Congressional approval and the president’s signature.

Unforeseen events like economic recessions, natural disasters, or wars can trigger urgent, unplanned spending. While these moments demand swift action, the scale and structure of the response are determined jointly by the president, executive agencies, and Congress, shaping the long-term trajectory of the national debt.