Government spending per capita in United States
United States: Government spending per capita was 34,073 current international-$ in 2024. ▲ Rising
Government spending per capita in United States, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in current international-$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending per capita in United States is 34,073 current international-$, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 62.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending per capita in United States peaked at 34,073 current international-$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 17,927 current international-$, in 2007.
United States ranks 12th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19,175 current international-$ | 17,927 current international-$ | 20,355 current international-$ | 3 |
| 2010s | 21,899 current international-$ | 20,653 current international-$ | 24,922 current international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 31,829 current international-$ | 29,936 current international-$ | 34,073 current international-$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.5014 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.51 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0594 °C (2026)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9189 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 143.86 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8696 °C (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 2 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending per capita in United States?
- Government spending per capita in United States was 34,073 current international-$ in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending per capita recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 34,073 current international-$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest government spending per capita recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,927 current international-$ in 2007.
- How does United States rank for government spending per capita?
- United States ranks 12th out of 43 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending per capita rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total amount of money the general government spends per capita. This data is adjusted for differences in living costs between countries but not for inflation.