US Debt Clocks
The first “National Debt Clock” (actually a numerical counter with a running display) was erected in Times Square, New York City in 1989. At the time, the US Debt was $2.7 Trillion. Today, it is over $35 Trillion.
New York real estate developer, Seymour Durst, who invented and sponsored the clock stated that it represents a nonpartisan effort and explained the motivation behind the project in terms of intergenerational equity. “We are a family business. We think generationally, and we don’t want to see the next generation crippled by this burden. The location of the clock has since been moved to 44th Street just off 6th Avenue, Avenue of the Americas and the amount is over $35 Trillion!
A few years ago, there were approximately 37 Debt Clocks, most online, purporting to show the US National Debt. 20 were on Congressional and government websites and 17 on non-government sites. Most were incorrect – including all of the ones on Congressional websites. There was a $6 Trillion difference between the highest at $22 Trillion and lowest at $16 Trillion. Below is a list of some samples.
The official source for reporting US outstanding debt is the U.S. Treasury. Each business at or after 3 PM ET the U.S, Treasury updates the amount of outstanding debt. Via their website Debt to the Penny website.
Debt to the Penny
Peterson Foundation
High Amount
Low Amount
Most Viewed - Internet
Most Viewed - NYC
Following is a list of the displays and the amount each showed:
Source Website Link Amount on March 13, 2017
| Type | Source | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NON GOV | The U.S. Debt Clock | $22,579,965,537,740 |
| NON GOV | Debt Clock Search | $20,352,734,847,558 |
| NON GOV | Babylon Today | $20,000,670,940,528 |
| NON GOV | Gary North | $20,000,670,649,491 |
| House | Paul Gosar | $20,000,659,636,468 |
| House | Morgan Griffit | $20,000,658,643,523 |
| House | Peter DeFazio | $20,000,658,643,523 |
| House | Mike Kelly | $20,000,658,083,102 |
| House | Bill Johnson | $20,000,657,593,137 |
| House | Scott Tipton | $20,000,657,158,009 |
| House | Jeff Duncan | $20,000,656,767,706 |
| Senate | Mike Crapo | $20,000,656,227,458 |
| House | Ted Yoho | $20,000,655,921,310 |
| NON GOV | Zfacts | $19,957,234,678,302 |
| NON GOV | 44th Street New York City | $19,944,485,346,981 |
| NON GOV | U.S. Debt Clock.org | $19,917,274,674,395 |
| NON GOV | National Debt Clocks | $19,892,527,447,262 |
| NON GOV | Cobcord Coalition | $19,885,676,540,211 |
| House | Raul Larador | $19,885,079,848,232 |
| House | David McKinley | $19,885,079,546,770 |
| House | Bruse Westerman | $19,885,079,163,763 |
| House | Susan Brooks | $19,885,078,803,336 |
| House | Thomas Massie | $19,885,078,519,423 |
| House | Tom Marino | $19,885,078,279,600 |
| House | Dianne Black | $19,885,077,841,979 |
| House | David Perdue | $19,868,232,020,737 |
| House | Steve Womack | $19,868,036,994,627 |
| NON GOV | Naber | $19,864,736,866,211 |
| House | Todd Rokita | $19,859,707,275,761 |
| US Treasury | UST Debt to the Penny | $19,858,033,799,549 |
| NON GOV | US Government Debt | $19,855,676,540,211 |
| NON GOV | David Manuel | $19,855,676,540,211 |
| NON GOV | Peter G. Peterson Foundation | $19,855,676,540,211 |
| House | Bob Latta | $19,846,853,857,191 |
| NON GOV | Debt Clock | $19,404,676,065,522 |
| NON GOV | World O Meters | $19,185,572,622,493 |
| NON GOV | Crowd Fund the Debt | $16,842,679,610,030 |