# Debt to GDP under Ronald Reagan, 1981–1989

Source page: https://govargus.com/presidents/reagan/debt

Under Ronald Reagan, federal debt as a share of GDP went from 31.2% in Q4 1980 to 49.7% in Q4 1988, up 18.6 pts. That is +2.32 pts/yr, against −0.66 pts/yr in the four years before. Ranked by yearly change, it is 5th of the 8 completed terms since 1977, counting from the fastest rise.

Federal debt (% of GDP): Total public debt (including debt held by federal trust funds) as a share of GDP. Source: Office of Management and Budget / Fed. Reserve Bank of St. Louis, via FRED GFDEGDQ188S (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GFDEGDQ188S), fetched Oct 19, 2026.

## Year by year

Highest reading during the term: 49.7% in Q4 1988. Lowest: 30.6% in Q3 1981.

| Period | Value | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Q4 1980, before inauguration | 31.2% |  |
| Q4 1981 | 31.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Q4 1982 | 35.2% | +3.8 pts |
| Q4 1983 | 37.2% | +2.0 pts |
| Q4 1984 | 40.1% | +2.9 pts |
| Q4 1985 | 43.8% | +3.7 pts |
| Q4 1986 | 47.6% | +3.8 pts |
| Q4 1987 | 48.6% | +1.0 pts |
| Q4 1988 | 49.7% | +1.2 pts |

## Every term

Sorted by yearly change, fastest rise first. A term's first year mostly reflects the previous administration's policies, and Congress, the Federal Reserve and the world economy move these numbers too. Govargus describes; it does not score presidents.

| President | Term | During term | 4 years before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Donald Trump (1st term) | 2017–2021 | 104.6% → 125.6% (+5.24 pts/yr) | +1.14 pts/yr |
| Barack Obama | 2009–2017 | 73.2% → 104.6% (+3.93 pts/yr) | +3.15 pts/yr |
| George H. W. Bush | 1989–1993 | 49.7% → 62.5% (+3.20 pts/yr) | +2.41 pts/yr |
| George W. Bush | 2001–2009 | 54.3% → 73.2% (+2.37 pts/yr) | −2.55 pts/yr |
| Ronald Reagan | 1981–1989 | 31.2% → 49.7% (+2.32 pts/yr) | −0.66 pts/yr |
| Donald Trump (2nd term) | 2025–present | 121.4% → 122.6% (+0.93 pts/yr, through Q1 2026) | −1.05 pts/yr |
| Jimmy Carter | 1977–1981 | 33.8% → 31.2% (−0.66 pts/yr) | +0.01 pts/yr |
| Bill Clinton | 1993–2001 | 62.5% → 54.3% (−1.03 pts/yr) | +3.20 pts/yr |
| Joe Biden | 2021–2025 | 125.6% → 121.4% (−1.05 pts/yr) | +5.24 pts/yr |

## Events during the term

- Aug 13, 1981, law: Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. Cuts the top income tax rate from 70% to 50% and phases in broad rate cuts and indexing.