![](https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/_OyQBQ1Qf68xr1lqZraWL3ZEWL0=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/120229677-56a9aacf5f9b58b7d0fdce2a.jpg)
The Difference Between National Debt and Federal Deficit
The federal deficit and the national debt are both bad and getting worse, but what are they and how are they different? Key Terms Federal Budget Deficit: The difference between the federal government’s annual revenues and expenditures National Debt: Total …