The analysis summarizes annual changes in United States's budget surplus or deficit and the principal aggregate fiscal indicators.
Net lending or borrowing by the government of United States was -7.2% of GDP in 2024, corresponding to a deficit. Revenue excluding grants represented 17.8% of GDP, while government expense accounted for 24.9%. The budget balance changed by -1.8 percentage points over five years and by -3.5 percentage points over ten years.
In the common comparison year 2024, United States ranked 143rd of 158 economies by net lending or borrowing as a share of GDP.
United States Government Budget Balance by Year
Data source: World Bank, World Development Indicators — Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), % of GDP (GC.NLD.TOTL.GD.ZS); Revenue, excluding grants, % of GDP (GC.REV.XGRT.GD.ZS); Expense, % of GDP (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS); Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), current local currency units (GC.NLD.TOTL.CN); Tax revenue, % of GDP (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS); Grants and other revenue, % of revenue (GC.REV.GOTR.ZS).
License: CC BY-4.0. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
About the Indicators
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), % of GDP. The overall government fiscal balance — revenue minus expense minus net acquisition of nonfinancial assets — as a share of GDP.
Revenue, excluding grants, % of GDP. Government revenue from taxes and non-tax sources, excluding grants received from other governments or organizations, as a share of GDP.
Expense, % of GDP. Total government expense — all cash payments for operating activities and transfers — as a share of GDP.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), current local currency units. The overall government fiscal balance in the country’s own currency, at current prices.
Tax revenue, % of GDP. Compulsory transfers to government for public purposes, as a share of GDP.
Grants and other revenue, % of revenue. The share of total government revenue coming from grants and other miscellaneous, non-tax sources.