Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in United States
United States: Government spending vs. GDP, per capita was 8,913 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
8,913 constant 2015 US$ per person
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
22nd
of 166 countries
All-time high
8,981 constant 2015 US$ per person
in 2009
All-time low
6,479 constant 2015 US$ per person
in 1973
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in United States, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2015 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2024, government spending vs. gdp, per capita in United States stood at 8,913 constant 2015 US$ per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, per capita in United States peaked at 8,981 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2009 and was at its lowest, 6,479 constant 2015 US$ per person, in 1973.
United States ranks 22nd of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in United States, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6,725 constant 2015 US$ per person | — |
| 1971 | 6,646 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.2% |
| 1972 | 6,598 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 6,479 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 6,559 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 6,653 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 6,590 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 6,640 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 6,687 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 6,664 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 6,700 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 6,740 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 6,832 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 6,974 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 7,018 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 7,291 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 7,555 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 7,634 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 7,715 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 7,878 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 8,003 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 8,034 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 7,975 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 7,867 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 7,811 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 7,739 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 7,684 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 7,732 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 7,786 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 7,909 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 7,941 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 8,143 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 8,378 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 8,449 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 8,499 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 8,491 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 8,511 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 8,564 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 8,691 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 8,981 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 8,906 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 8,564 constant 2015 US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 8,372 constant 2015 US$ per person | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 8,149 constant 2015 US$ per person | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 8,017 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 8,092 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 8,169 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 8,107 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 8,171 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 8,448 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 8,669 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 8,698 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 8,535 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 8,715 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 8,913 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 8,913 constant 2015 US$ per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 6,505 constant 2015 US$ per person, 1.4× the median. (60 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6,624 constant 2015 US$ per person | 6,479 constant 2015 US$ per person | 6,725 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 7,234 constant 2015 US$ per person | 6,700 constant 2015 US$ per person | 7,878 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,854 constant 2015 US$ per person | 7,684 constant 2015 US$ per person | 8,034 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,465 constant 2015 US$ per person | 7,941 constant 2015 US$ per person | 8,981 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,299 constant 2015 US$ per person | 8,017 constant 2015 US$ per person | 8,906 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,706 constant 2015 US$ per person | 8,535 constant 2015 US$ per person | 8,913 constant 2015 US$ per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 19 Austria 9,894 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 20 France 9,856 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 21 United Kingdom 9,829 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 23 New Zealand 8,484 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 24 Japan 8,061 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 25 Kuwait 7,631 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
More economy & growth data for United States
- 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$), annual growth rate 52.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp, per capita in United States?
- Government spending vs. gdp, per capita in United States was 8,913 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, per capita recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 8,981 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2009.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, per capita recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,479 constant 2015 US$ per person in 1973.
- How does United States rank for government spending vs. gdp, per capita?
- United States ranks 22nd out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, per capita rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government spending vs. GDP, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Government spending vs. GDP divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Government spending vs. GDP ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Government spending vs. GDP National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Government spending vs. GDP divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.