Debt vs. Deficits: What’s the Difference?
Last Updated April 16, 2025
The words deficit and debt come up frequently in discussions about the policy decisions that lawmakers face and are often confused for one another. So what exactly are the differences between the deficit and the debt?
What Is the Federal Budget Deficit?
The deficit is the annual difference between government spending and government revenue. Every year, the government takes in revenues in the form of taxes and other income, and spends money on various programs, such as national defense, Social Security, and healthcare. If the government spends more than it takes in, then it runs a deficit. If the government takes in more than it spends, it runs a surplus.
Since 1970, the U.S. government has run a deficit in all but four years (1998–2001) and that annual gap is projected to increase going forward.
What Is the Federal Debt?
The debt is the total amount of money the U.S. government owes. It represents the accumulation of past deficits, minus surpluses. Debt is like the balance on a credit card statement, which shows the total amount accrued over time. The amount of debt held by the public at the end of fiscal year 2024 was $28.2 trillion, or 98 percent of GDP.
Historically, periods with spikes in the deficit and a corresponding increase in the national debt have been associated with war or a severe economic downturn. Today, deficits have become the norm and are caused by a long-term, structural mismatch between spending and revenues stemming from an aging population, rising healthcare costs, mounting interest payments and revenues that are insufficient to cover the promises that have been made.
Looking Forward
By addressing that mismatch, policymakers can put the nation on a better path for economic growth, opportunity, and prosperity. A strong fiscal foundation creates positive conditions for growth, including increased access to capital, more resources for public and private investments in our future, improved consumer and business confidence, and a stronger safety net. No single approach will be perfect in everyone’s eyes, but leaders can draw upon the many good ideas that have been put forward from across the ideological spectrum in order to help ensure a brighter economic future for the next generation.
Photo by Stefano Salvetti/Getty Images
Further Reading
Growing National Debt Sets Off Alarm Bells for U.S. Business Leaders
Debt rising unsustainably threatens the country’s economic future, and a number of business leaders have signaled their concern.
What Is R Versus G and Why Does It Matter for the National Debt?
The combination of higher debt levels and elevated interest rates have increased the cost of federal borrowing, prompting economists to consider the sustainability of our fiscal trajectory.
High Interest Rates Left Their Mark on the Budget
When rates increase, borrowing costs rise; unfortunately, for the fiscal bottom line, that dynamic has been playing out over the past few years.