Central government revenues as a share of GDP in United States of America
United States of America: Central government revenues as a share of GDP was 17.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
17.8%
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
115th
of 157 countries
All-time high
20.6%
in 2000
All-time low
15.7%
in 2009
Years of data
53
1972–2024
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in United States of America, 1972–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 17.8% for central government revenues as a share of gdp in 2024.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government revenues as a share of gdp in United States of America peaked at 20.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.7%, in 2009.
United States of America ranks 115th of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 16.7% | — |
| 1973 | 17.1% | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 18.0% | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 17.3% | -3.7% |
| 1976 | 16.6% | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 17.8% | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 17.7% | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 18.6% | +5.0% |
| 1980 | 19.1% | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 19.9% | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 19.7% | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 18.0% | -8.9% |
| 1984 | 17.8% | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 18.2% | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 18.0% | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 18.7% | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 18.4% | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 18.6% | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 18.2% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 18.1% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 17.6% | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 18.0% | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 18.3% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 18.8% | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 19.0% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 19.4% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 19.8% | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 19.8% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 20.6% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 19.5% | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 17.4% | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 16.8% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 16.8% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 17.9% | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 18.6% | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 17.7% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 15.7% | -11.6% |
| 2010 | 16.4% | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 16.6% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 16.7% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 18.7% | +11.9% |
| 2014 | 18.9% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 19.0% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 18.5% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 19.2% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 17.5% | -9.0% |
| 2019 | 17.3% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 17.7% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 18.8% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 19.9% | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 17.5% | -12.0% |
| 2024 | 17.8% | +1.7% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 17.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 33.0%, 54% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.5% | 16.6% | 18.6% | 8 |
| 1980s | 18.6% | 17.8% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.7% | 17.6% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.0% | 15.7% | 20.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.9% | 16.4% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.3% | 17.5% | 19.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More economy & growth data for United States of America
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,235 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 400.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 34.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,172 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 52.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government revenues as a share of gdp in United States of America?
- Central government revenues as a share of gdp in United States of America was 17.8% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.7% in 2009.
- How does United States of America rank for central government revenues as a share of gdp?
- United States of America ranks 115th out of 157 countries with data for 2024.
- Is central government revenues as a share of gdp rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government revenues as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales included. Grants excluded.