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-$, in 2007.
United States ranks 12th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Government spending per capita in United States, year by year
| Year | current international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 17,927 current international-$ | — |
| 2008 | 19,243 current international-$ | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 20,355 current international-$ | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 20,890 current international-$ | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 20,926 current international-$ | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 20,702 current international-$ | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 20,653 current international-$ | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 21,030 current international-$ | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 21,455 current international-$ | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 22,046 current international-$ | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 22,662 current international-$ | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 23,700 current international-$ | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 24,922 current international-$ | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 30,439 current international-$ | +22.1% |
| 2021 | 32,347 current international-$ | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 29,936 current international-$ | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 32,348 current international-$ | +8.1% |
| 2024 | 34,073 current international-$ | +5.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 34,073 current international-$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,582 current international-$, 1.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19,175 current international-$ | 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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
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
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.