From 1929 to 2009, us government debt grew from thousand us$ (constant 2005=100) 1.3 to 35.3, at an annual average growth rate of 4.2%, while personal income per capita grew from thousand 6.6 to 35.8, at an average annual rate of 2.1%. During the 1929-1933 as well as the 2008-2009 crises, debt went up, while income went down. The rest of the time, both debt and income went both up, although at varying speeds. In 2009, us debt attained 10,849 and personal income 10,997 billion constant us$.

In "real" dollars, the US national debt became about the size of all personal incomes earned by the US population in 2009. In other words, the average US citizen carries, on behalf of the government, a debt of 35.3 US$thousand (red line) comparable to the 35.8 US$thousand of the average annual earnings (blue line).

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