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 (-) (M318501A027NBEA) from 1952 to 2024 about budget, federal, government, GDP, and USA.

The statistic depicts the budgetary balance in EU countries in 2024 in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP). A positive value indicates a budget surplus, while a negative value indicates a budget deficit. In 2024, Spain's budget deficit amounted to 3.2 percent of the GDP.

The United States had the largest account deficit of the G7 countries between 2010 and 2023. Moreover, its deficit increased sharply from 2019 to 2022, from minus *** billion U.S. dollars to minus ************ dollars in 2024. The account balance of the other six countries fluctuated more, with Germany having the highest positive balance at *** billion U.S. dollars. In terms of share of gross domestic product (GDP), the United Kingdom had the highest account balance deficit of the G7.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Surplus or Deficit - from 1901 to 2025 about budget, federal, and USA.

This dataset provides values for GOVERNMENT BUDGET reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The average for 2025 based on 81 countries was -3.05 percent. The highest value was in Cyprus: 2.87 percent and the lowest value was in Egypt: -12.13 percent. The indicator is available from 1980 to 2030. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The statistic shows the budget balance in relation to gross domestic product (GDP) of the ASEAN countries in Asia between 2020 and 2030. The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. A positive value indicates a budget surplus, a negative value indicates a deficit. In 2023, Indonesia's budget deficit was estimated at around *** percent of GDP.

The central government's budget in Turkey showed a deficit each year from 2006 to 2023. As of 2023, the highest value of budget deficit was recorded in the country at over *** billion Turkish lira.

Key information about US Consolidated Fiscal Balance: % of GDP

• United States Consolidated Fiscal Balance recorded a deficit equal to 6.3 % of its Nominal GDP in Jun 2025, compared with a deficit equal to 7.0 % in the previous quarter
• US Consolidated Fiscal Balance to GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Sep 1981 to Jun 2025, with an average ratio of -2.8 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 2.5 % in Dec 2000 and a record low of -19.0 % in Mar 2021

CEIC calculates quarterly Consolidated Fiscal Balance as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Consolidated Fiscal Balance and quarterly Nominal GDP. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service provides Consolidated Fiscal Balance in USD. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides Nominal GDP in USD. Consolidated Fiscal Balance covers Central Government only.


Further information about US Consolidated Fiscal Balance: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, US National Government Debt reached 38,040.1 USD bn in Oct 2025
• US Nominal GDP reached 7,621.4 USD bn in Jun 2025

The statistic shows the budget balance in relation to GDP of the DACH countries in Europe between 2020 and 2024, with projections up until 2030. A positive value indicates a budget surplus, a negative value indicates a deficit. The DACH region includes Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2024, Austria's deficit amounted to around 4.69 percent of GDP.

China recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 6.50 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - China Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

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.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the average budget deficit in the European Union was 3.4 percent. Nearly all countries from the CEE region (except for Bulgaria, Latvia, Slovenia) recorded a budget deficit in this period. The highest deficit was recorded in Romania (-9.9 percent of GDP). It was followed by Slovakia and Poland, respectively.

Graph and download economic data for Federal government budget surplus or deficit (-) (M318501Q027NBEA) from Q3 1959 to Q4 2024 about budget, federal, government, GDP, and USA.

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.

A budget deficit occurs when a country, business, or an individual has spending that is greater than the revenue received over a specific period, usually measured as a year. Romania's budget deficit accounted for *** percent of the country's GDP in 2024, the highest in the European Union.

The statistic shows the budget balance in relation to GDP of the MENA countries in 2023. MENA stands for Middle East and North Africa. A positive value indicates a budget surplus, a negative value indicates a deficit. In 2023, Algeria's deficit amounted to around **** percent of GDP.