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Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — United States

Government consumption (% of GDP) in the United States in 2024 — 13.6%. Ranked 112 in the world out of 169. Since 1970, the indicator has fallen by 4.3 pp.

2024 13.6% +0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 112of 169
Period maximum 18%1970
Period minimum 13.5%2023

Trend over time

1970–2024 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — United States, 1970–20241214161819701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 18%1971: 17.9%1972: 17.6%1973: 16.8%1974: 17.2%1975: 17.6%1976: 16.8%1977: 16.4%1978: 15.8%1979: 15.4%1980: 15.9%1981: 15.8%1982: 16.6%1983: 16.4%1984: 15.7%1985: 15.9%1986: 16.1%1987: 16%1988: 15.7%1989: 15.6%1990: 15.9%1991: 16.3%1992: 16.1%1993: 15.6%1994: 15.2%1995: 14.9%1996: 14.5%1997: 14.2%1998: 14%1999: 14%2000: 14%2001: 14.5%2002: 15.1%2003: 15.2%2004: 15.2%2005: 15%2006: 15%2007: 15.2%2008: 15.9%2009: 16.8%2010: 16.7%2011: 16.1%2012: 15.5%2013: 15%2014: 14.6%2015: 14.2%2016: 14.1%2017: 13.8%2018: 13.8%2019: 14%2020: 14.9%2021: 14.2%2022: 13.7%2023: 13.5%2024: 13.6%
Change over the period: −4.3 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United States

United States 13.6%
World 16.7%
North America 14.2%
Northern America computed 14.2%
High-income countries computed 17.6%
Government consumption (% of GDP) — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 13.6 +0.1 pp
2023 13.5 −0.1 pp
2022 13.7 −0.6 pp
2021 14.2 −0.6 pp
2020 14.9 +0.9 pp
2019 14 +0.1 pp
2018 13.8 −0 pp
2017 13.8 −0.3 pp
2016 14.1 −0.1 pp
2015 14.2 −0.3 pp
2014 14.6 −0.4 pp
2013 15 −0.5 pp
2012 15.5 −0.6 pp
2011 16.1 −0.6 pp
2010 16.7 −0.1 pp
2009 16.8 +0.9 pp
2008 15.9 +0.7 pp
2007 15.2 +0.2 pp
2006 15 −0 pp
2005 15 −0.1 pp
2004 15.2 −0.1 pp
2003 15.2 +0.2 pp
2002 15.1 +0.5 pp
2001 14.5 +0.5 pp
2000 14 −0 pp
1999 14 +0 pp
1998 14 −0.2 pp
1997 14.2 −0.3 pp
1996 14.5 −0.4 pp
1995 14.9 −0.3 pp
1994 15.2 −0.4 pp
1993 15.6 −0.4 pp
1992 16.1 −0.2 pp
1991 16.3 +0.4 pp
1990 15.9 +0.3 pp
1989 15.6 −0 pp
1988 15.7 −0.3 pp
1987 16 −0.1 pp
1986 16.1 +0.2 pp
1985 15.9 +0.2 pp
1984 15.7 −0.7 pp
1983 16.4 −0.2 pp
1982 16.6 +0.8 pp
1981 15.8 −0.1 pp
1980 15.9 +0.5 pp
1979 15.4 −0.4 pp
1978 15.8 −0.6 pp
1977 16.4 −0.4 pp
1976 16.8 −0.8 pp
1975 17.6 +0.4 pp
1974 17.2 +0.4 pp
1973 16.8 −0.9 pp
1972 17.6 −0.3 pp
1971 17.9 −0 pp
1970 18 —

Northern America, 2024

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

CA Canada 21.4 US United States 13.6 BM Bermuda 10.7
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

General government final consumption expenditure as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services for delivering public services, and spending on defense and security. It leaves out public investment and social transfers, so the indicator is lower than the overall size of the budget.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for the United States

Economy Government consumption in US dollars

How much the state spends on running itself: public sector wages, purchases, defense.

United States by year Economy Household consumption (% of GDP)

What share of GDP is made up of household final consumption spending.

United States by year Public Finance Tax revenue (% of GDP)

Taxes collected as a percent of GDP — the fiscal capacity of the state.

United States by year Public Finance Government debt

Gross general government debt as a percent of GDP.

United States by year
All indicators for the United States