US federal spendingShare of GDP
US government spending as a percentage of GDP
Federal spending was 23.1% of GDP in fiscal year 2025, against 17.3% collected in revenue.The 50-year average (FY1975-FY2024) is 21.1%. The post-war peak was 30.5% in FY2020.
Outlays, FY2025
23.1%
of GDP
Receipts, FY2025
17.3%
of GDP
GDP
$30.32 trillion
FY2025
Since 1930
Outside the Second World War, spending peaked at 30.5% of GDP in FY2020
Federal outlays as a percent of GDP, fiscal years
Every year with GDP, outlays, receipts and the deficit
| Fiscal year | GDP | Outlays | Receipts | Surplus or deficit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30.32 trillion | 23.1% | 17.3% | -5.9% |
| 2024 | $28.95 trillion | 23.3% | 17.0% | -6.3% |
| 2023 | $27.40 trillion | 22.4% | 16.2% | -6.2% |
| 2022 | $25.57 trillion | 24.5% | 19.2% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | $23.04 trillion | 29.6% | 17.6% | -12.0% |
| 2020 | $21.34 trillion | 30.5% | 16.0% | -14.5% |
| 2019 | $21.29 trillion | 20.9% | 16.3% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | $20.44 trillion | 20.1% | 16.3% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | $19.38 trillion | 20.6% | 17.1% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | $18.64 trillion | 20.7% | 17.5% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | $18.16 trillion | 20.3% | 17.9% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | $17.43 trillion | 20.1% | 17.3% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | $16.69 trillion | 20.7% | 16.6% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | $16.11 trillion | 21.9% | 15.2% | -6.7% |
| 2011 | $15.47 trillion | 23.3% | 14.9% | -8.4% |
| 2010 | $14.88 trillion | 23.2% | 14.5% | -8.7% |
| 2009 | $14.47 trillion | 24.3% | 14.5% | -9.8% |
| 2008 | $14.80 trillion | 20.2% | 17.1% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | $14.31 trillion | 19.1% | 18.0% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | $13.64 trillion | 19.5% | 17.6% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | $12.84 trillion | 19.3% | 16.8% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | $12.03 trillion | 19.1% | 15.6% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | $11.28 trillion | 19.2% | 15.8% | -3.3% |
| 2002 | $10.83 trillion | 18.6% | 17.1% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | $10.53 trillion | 17.7% | 18.9% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | $10.12 trillion | 17.7% | 20.0% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | $9.48 trillion | 18.0% | 19.3% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | $8.93 trillion | 18.5% | 19.3% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | $8.45 trillion | 18.9% | 18.7% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | $7.95 trillion | 19.6% | 18.3% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | $7.56 trillion | 20.0% | 17.9% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | $7.18 trillion | 20.4% | 17.5% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | $6.78 trillion | 20.8% | 17.0% | -3.8% |
| 1992 | $6.42 trillion | 21.5% | 17.0% | -4.5% |
| 1991 | $6.09 trillion | 21.7% | 17.3% | -4.4% |
| 1990 | $5.90 trillion | 21.2% | 17.5% | -3.7% |
| 1989 | $5.55 trillion | 20.6% | 17.8% | -2.7% |
| 1988 | $5.14 trillion | 20.7% | 17.7% | -3.0% |
| 1987 | $4.77 trillion | 21.1% | 17.9% | -3.1% |
| 1986 | $4.53 trillion | 21.9% | 17.0% | -4.9% |
| 1985 | $4.27 trillion | 22.2% | 17.2% | -5.0% |
| 1984 | $3.95 trillion | 21.6% | 16.9% | -4.7% |
| 1983 | $3.54 trillion | 22.9% | 17.0% | -5.9% |
| 1982 | $3.31 trillion | 22.5% | 18.6% | -3.9% |
| 1981 | $3.13 trillion | 21.6% | 19.1% | -2.5% |
| 1980 | $2.79 trillion | 21.2% | 18.5% | -2.6% |
| 1979 | $2.57 trillion | 19.6% | 18.1% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | $2.27 trillion | 20.2% | 17.6% | -2.6% |
| 1977 | $2.02 trillion | 20.2% | 17.6% | -2.7% |
| 1976 | $1.79 trillion | 20.8% | 16.7% | -4.1% |
| 1975 | $1.61 trillion | 20.7% | 17.4% | -3.3% |
| 1974 | $1.48 trillion | 18.2% | 17.8% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | $1.35 trillion | 18.2% | 17.1% | -1.1% |
| 1972 | $1.22 trillion | 19.0% | 17.0% | -1.9% |
| 1971 | $1.12 trillion | 18.8% | 16.8% | -2.1% |
| 1970 | $1.05 trillion | 18.7% | 18.4% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | $980.3 billion | 18.7% | 19.1% | +0.3% |
| 1968 | $897.6 billion | 19.8% | 17.0% | -2.8% |
| 1967 | $836.5 billion | 18.8% | 17.8% | -1.0% |
| 1966 | $780.5 billion | 17.2% | 16.8% | -0.5% |
| 1965 | $709.3 billion | 16.7% | 16.5% | -0.2% |
| 1964 | $661.7 billion | 17.9% | 17.0% | -0.9% |
| 1963 | $618.2 billion | 18.0% | 17.2% | -0.8% |
| 1962 | $585.7 billion | 18.2% | 17.0% | -1.2% |
| 1961 | $546.6 billion | 17.9% | 17.3% | -0.6% |
| 1960 | $534.3 billion | 17.3% | 17.3% | +0.1% |
| 1959 | $504.6 billion | 18.3% | 15.7% | -2.5% |
| 1958 | $473.5 billion | 17.4% | 16.8% | -0.6% |
| 1957 | $463.4 billion | 16.5% | 17.3% | +0.7% |
| 1956 | $438.2 billion | 16.1% | 17.0% | +0.9% |
| 1955 | $406.3 billion | 16.8% | 16.1% | -0.7% |
| 1954 | $387.1 billion | 18.3% | 18.0% | -0.3% |
| 1953 | $382.1 billion | 19.9% | 18.2% | -1.7% |
| 1952 | $357.1 billion | 19.0% | 18.5% | -0.4% |
| 1951 | $327.1 billion | 13.9% | 15.8% | +1.9% |
| 1950 | $278.7 billion | 15.3% | 14.2% | -1.1% |
| 1949 | $276.5 billion | 14.0% | 14.3% | +0.2% |
| 1948 | $261.9 billion | 11.4% | 15.9% | +4.5% |
| 1947 | $238.9 billion | 14.4% | 16.1% | +1.7% |
| 1946 | $228.0 billion | 24.2% | 17.2% | -7.0% |
| 1945 | $226.4 billion | 41.0% | 19.9% | -21.0% |
| 1944 | $213.8 billion | 42.7% | 20.5% | -22.2% |
| 1943 | $184.6 billion | 42.6% | 13.0% | -29.6% |
| 1942 | $147.7 billion | 23.8% | 9.9% | -13.9% |
| 1941 | $116.2 billion | 11.7% | 7.5% | -4.3% |
| 1940 | $98.2 billion | 9.6% | 6.7% | -3.0% |
| 1939 | $90.4 billion | 10.1% | 7.0% | -3.1% |
| 1938 | $90.2 billion | 7.6% | 7.5% | -0.1% |
| 1937 | $88.9 billion | 8.5% | 6.1% | -2.5% |
| 1936 | $79.6 billion | 10.3% | 4.9% | -5.4% |
| 1935 | $70.5 billion | 9.1% | 5.1% | -4.0% |
| 1934 | $62.0 billion | 10.6% | 4.8% | -5.8% |
| 1933 | $58.3 billion | 7.9% | 3.4% | -4.5% |
| 1932 | $68.5 billion | 6.8% | 2.8% | -4.0% |
| 1931 | $84.8 billion | 4.2% | 3.7% | -0.5% |
| 1930 | $98.4 billion | 3.4% | 4.1% | +0.8% |
Office of Management and Budget, Historical Tables, Table 1.2 (FY2027 Budget).
By decade
Averages of the fiscal years in each decade.
| Decade | Outlays, % of GDP | Receipts, % of GDP | Surplus or deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.1% | 16.8% | -0.4% |
| 1960s | 18.1% | 17.3% | -0.8% |
| 1970s | 19.4% | 17.4% | -2.0% |
| 1980s | 21.6% | 17.8% | -3.8% |
| 1990s | 20.1% | 18.0% | -2.1% |
| 2000s | 19.5% | 17.1% | -2.3% |
| 2010s | 21.2% | 16.4% | -4.8% |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 25.6% | 17.2% | -8.4% |
In dollars
For spending in dollars by year and by function, see US federal spending by year, the budget pie chart and spending by agency.
Questions and answers
- What is US government spending as a percentage of GDP?
- Federal outlays were 23.1% of GDP in fiscal year 2025 ($30.32 trillion GDP), according to OMB's Historical Tables. The average over FY1975-FY2024 was 21.1%.
- When was federal spending highest as a share of GDP?
- FY1944, at 42.7% during the Second World War. Since 1950 the peak was FY2020 (30.5%).
- Does this include state and local spending?
- No. These are federal outlays only. State and local governments spend their own revenue on top; for state budgets see where state taxes go.
- How does revenue compare?
- Receipts were 17.3% of GDP in FY2025, leaving a deficit of 5.9% of GDP. See the deficit by year.
Related
- Federal revenueby source
- Tariff revenueby month
- Federal deficitby year
- Immigration enforcementby year
- Customs and Border Protectionby year
- Federal Bureau of Prisonsby year
- Disaster reliefby year
- Medical researchby year
Sources and notes
- Office of Management and Budget, Historical Tables, Table 1.2: Summary of receipts, outlays, and surpluses or deficits as percentages of GDP, 1930 onward (FY2027 Budget), actual years. GDP is by fiscal year. Public domain.