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 Surplus or Deficit - from Oct 1980 to Jul 2025 about budget, federal, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Federal government budget surplus or deficit (-) (M318501Q027NBEA) from Q3 1959 to Q4 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 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.

This table shows the net transactions for the current month, and the current and prior fiscal year-to-date, as well as account balances for the beginning of the current fiscal year and current accounting month and the close of the current accounting month. This activity is related to the means used to finance the budget deficit or to dispose of a budget surplus. An asset account would represent an asset to the United States Government, for example United States Treasury Operating Cash. A liability account would represent a liability to the United States Government, for example Borrowing from the Public. 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.

The U.S. budget deficit amounted to roughly 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, which was around 6.4 percent of the U.S. GDP. The GDP of the United States since 1990 can be accessed here.

The United States recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 6.40 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - United States Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This summary table shows the total amount of receipts and outlays and the amount of the budget surplus/deficit by month for the current and prior fiscal years. 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.

This summary table shows the on-budget and off-budget receipts and outlays, the on-budget and off-budget surplus/deficit, and the means of financing the budget surplus/deficit. The table also shows the budgeted amounts estimated in the President's Budget for the current fiscal year and next fiscal year for each item on the table. 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.

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.

The forecasted budget balance for the U.S. government is predicted to fluctuate between the fiscal years of 2025 and 2035. This forecast predicts a deficit of 2.7 trillion U.S. dollars by fiscal year 2035. A fiscal year covers the period from October 1 to September 30 of a given year.

Australia Government Budget: Surplus or Deficit data was reported at -199.000 AUD mn in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14,153.000 AUD mn for Feb 2025. Australia Government Budget: Surplus or Deficit data is updated monthly, averaging -496.100 AUD mn from Jul 1973 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 591 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.

Australia recorded a Government Budget surplus equal to 0.60 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Australia 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.

China Government Surplus or Deficit: Year to Date data was reported at -1,262.600 RMB bn in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of -124.000 RMB bn for Feb 2025. China Government Surplus or Deficit: Year to Date data is updated monthly, averaging 268.625 RMB bn from Jan 2007 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 212 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.

The United Kingdom recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 4.80 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the budget balance in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States stood at about -7.26 percent. Between 2001 and 2024, the figure dropped by approximately 6.72 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory. From 2024 to 2030, the budget balance will rise by around 1.65 percentage points, showing an overall upward trend with periodic ups and downs.The indicator describes the general government net lending / borrowing, which is calculated as revenue minus total expenditure. The International Monetary Fund defines the general government expenditure as consisting of total expenses and the net acquisition of nonfinancial assets. The general government revenue consists of the revenue from taxes, social contributions, grants receivable, and other revenue.

This table shows the total receipts and outlays and the resulting surplus or deficit (shown on the table as excess) for the current month and the current fiscal year-to-date for all federal trust funds. The table also shows the totals for securities held as investments by the federal trust funds for the beginning of the fiscal year and the beginning and ending of the current accounting month. A trust fund is a type of account, designated by law, for receipts or offsetting receipts dedicated to specific purposes and the expenditure of these receipts. 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.