The national debt is currently a whopping $10 trillion. As if that weren’t already an unfathomable number, with all the bailout packages and economic stimulus plans coming out of Washington currently I was curious to find out how soon the national debt was likely to outgrow the trillions and achieve $1 quadrillion.
Since 1938 the national debt has grown at an average annual rate of 8.5%. If we assume that it continues to grow at this rate (and considering the government’s current plans/policies I think that’s a pretty safe bet) it will reach $1 quadrillion in 2064, sometime around my 90th birthday.
Sources:
U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
United States National Debt: An Analysis of the Presidents Who Are Responsible for the Borrowing
Steve McGourty
September, 21 2008