In 2023, the U.S. government had a budget deficit of 1.69 trillion U.S. dollars. This is compared to 2000, when the government had a budget surplus of 0.24 trillion U.S. dollars.

U.S. Government budget

The government budget is a financial statement that demonstrates the government’s suggested revenues and spending for the financial year. Budget surpluses occur when income exceeds expenditures. Budget deficits occur when spending exceeds income. The budget balance of the U.S. government has fluctuated since 2016, and is expected to decrease slightly by 2026.

Military spending

Defense outlays in the United States amounted to 714 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. It is expected to continue to increase over the next several years. The United States currently has the largest defense budget in the world, and is the largest employer in the world. The military budget funds the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. The amount of funding that goes towards the Department of Defense is heavily criticized by Democrats in the United States, because they believe that the funding should be more evenly distributed towards other social welfare programs such as public health insurance and education.

Graph and download economic data for Federal government budget surplus or deficit (-) from 1952 to 2023 about budget, federal, government, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Surplus or Deficit [-] as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (FYFSGDA188S) from 1929 to 2024 about budget, federal, GDP, and USA.

The U.S. budget deficit amounted to roughly 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023, which was around 6.3 percent of the U.S. GDP. The forecast predicts a state deficit of about 2.58 trillion U.S. dollars in 2034, which would be about 6.2 percent of the U.S. GDP. The GDP of the United States since 1990 can be accessed here.

The forecasted budget balance for the U.S. government is predicted to fluctuate between the fiscal years of 2024 and 2034. This forecast predicts a deficit of 2.58 trillion U.S. dollars by fiscal year 2034. A fiscal year covers the period from October 1 to September 30 of a given year.

China Government Surplus or Deficit: Year to Date data was reported at -6,491.000 RMB bn in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of -4,604.300 RMB bn for Nov 2024. China Government Surplus or Deficit: Year to Date data is updated monthly, averaging 280.213 RMB bn from Jan 2007 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 210 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,535.486 RMB bn in Jul 2011 and a record low of -6,491.000 RMB bn in Dec 2024. China Government Surplus or Deficit: Year to Date data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table CN.FA: Government Revenue and Expenditure: Monthly.

Japan recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 6.40 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2022. This dataset provides - Japan Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Italy recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 3.40 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Italy Government Budget - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Spain recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 3.60 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2023. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Spain Government Budget - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

China recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 5.80 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2023. This dataset provides - China Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In the first quarter of 2024, the U.S. government's budget balance amounted to a net borrowing of about 2.09 trillion U.S. dollars. This is compared to the first quarter of 2009, when the U.S. government borrowed about 1.79 trillion U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Surplus or Deficit - from Oct 1980 to Jan 2025 about budget, federal, and USA.

Saudi Arabia recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 2.80 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Saudi Arabia Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Australia recorded a Government Budget surplus equal to 0.90 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2023. This dataset provides - Australia Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about China Consolidated Fiscal Balance: % of GDP

• China Consolidated Fiscal Balance recorded a deficit equal to 4.8 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with a deficit equal to 4.9 % in the previous quarter
• China Consolidated Fiscal Balance to GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Dec 1995 to Dec 2024, with an average ratio of -2.0 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 1.4 % in Jun 2008 and a record low of -6.1 % in Dec 2020

CEIC calculates quarterly Consolidated Fiscal Balance as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Consolidated Fiscal Balance and quarterly Nominal GDP. The Ministry of Finance provides year-to-date Consolidated Fiscal Balance in local currency. The National Bureau of Statistics provides year-to-date Nominal GDP in local currency. Consolidated Fiscal Balance as % of Nominal GDP prior to Q4 2007 is calculated from non year-to-date Consolidated Fiscal Balance.


Further information about China Consolidated Fiscal Balance: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, China National Government Debt reached 4,230.0 USD bn in Dec 2023
• China Nominal GDP reached 4,166.8 USD bn in Mar 2023

Iran recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 5.50 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2023. This dataset provides - Iran Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Australia Government Budget: Surplus or Deficit data was reported at -18,186.000 AUD mn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of -9,297.000 AUD mn for Dec 2024. Australia Government Budget: Surplus or Deficit data is updated monthly, averaging -498.000 AUD mn from Jul 1973 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 589 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26,767.000 AUD mn in May 2023 and a record low of -33,374.000 AUD mn in Jul 2020. Australia Government Budget: Surplus or Deficit data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.F007: General Government: Cashflow Statement.

This summary table shows, for Budget Receipts, the total amount of activity for the current month, the current fiscal year-to-date, the comparable prior period year-to-date and the budgeted amount estimated for the current fiscal year for various types of receipts (i.e. individual income tax, corporate income tax, etc.). The Budget Outlays section of the table shows the total amount of activity for the current month, the current fiscal year-to-date, the comparable prior period year-to-date and the budgeted amount estimated for the current fiscal year for agencies of the federal government. The table also shows the amounts for the budget/surplus deficit categorized as listed above. This table includes total and subtotal rows that should be excluded when aggregating data. Some rows represent elements of the dataset's hierarchy, but are not assigned values. The classification_id for each of these elements can be used as the parent_id for underlying data elements to calculate their implied values. Subtotal rows are available to access this same information.

Summary, reconciliation and revisions information on UK government deficit and debt figures by calendar and financial year.

In 2023, the government deficit in relation to the GDP in Italy decreased by around one percentage point compared to 2022. In total, the government deficit amounted to 7.2 percent of GDP in 2023. Net lending/net borrowing shows the financial position of a government after accounting for expenditures. Net lending means that a government is providing financial resources to other sectors, while net borrowing means that a government is borrowing resources from other sectors.