$ 1 - Total outstanding public debt on July 30 , 2012 . 49 - States that require a balanced budget . 12 - Consecutive U.S. budgets that have created a deficit . 11 - Where the US Congress has failed to exceed the debt limit since inception .
$ 15,873,767,378,850.16 - Total outstanding public debt on July 30 , 2012 . 49 - States that require a balanced budget . 12 - Consecutive U.S. budgets that have reflected a deficit . 11 - Times the US Congress has voted to raise the debt limit since 2001 .