This section of Department of Numbers is no longer being updated and may be removed in the future. The data here is out of date and should no longer be used.
Federal Debt, Revenue and Expenditures as a Fraction of GDP
As of Q3 2013 the United States' outstanding federal debt (i.e. Total Public Debt) was equal to 98.97% of GDP. The federal government currently takes in 17.59% of GDP in revenue annually from taxes (i.e. receipts) and pays out the equivalent of 22.09% of GDP in expenditures. By subtracting current revenue from current expenditures we calculate a current budget deficit of 5.03% of GDP in Q3 2013.
As a Percent of GDP |
Year/Year ( Point Change ) |
|
---|---|---|
Total Federal Debt ( 2013 Q3 ) |
98.97% | +0.74% |
Total Federal Revenue ( 2013 Q3 ) |
17.59% | +1.35% |
Total Federal Expenditures ( 2013 Q4 ) |
22.09% | -0.98% |
Budget Surplus (+) / Deficit (-) ( 2013 Q3 ) |
-5.03% | +1.82% |
Borrowing and Spending Charts & Trends
From the mid-1960s to the early 1980s the US had a stable to declining debt load relative to GDP. In the early 1980s and into the 1990s the US debt grew with recurring budget deficits until receipts overtook expenditures resulting in a surplus for a brief period between 1998 and 2001. Since late 2001 the size of the federal debt has grown substantially, especially after the recession that began in 2007 and the subsequent bailouts and temporary stimulus programs that were enacted as a result.
Total Federal Debt as a Fraction of GDP
The US debt to GDP ratio all-time high was 101.43% in Q1 2013. The low was in Q3 1981 when it was 30.60% of GDP.
Government Receipts and Expenditures as a Fraction of GDP
Post 1980, government revenue as a fraction of GDP peaked in Q1 2000 at 20.31%. At the lowest point in Q3 2009 government revenue was 15.38% of GDP. Government expenditures were at their highest in Q1 2010 when they reached 24.95% of GDP. The post 1980 low for expenditures was 18.50% in Q3 2000.
Government Budget Surplus or Deficit as a Fraction of GDP: ( Receipts - Expenditures )
Since 1980, the US budget deficit was at its highest point in Q3 2009 when it reached 9.33%. The highest surplus since 1980 was in Q1 2000 when it was 1.74% of GDP.
Historical Data & Sources
The table below shows the history of federal debt, revenue and expenditures since 1946 along with the resulting budget surplus or deficit based on those numbers. The federal debt data is from the Treasury's Total Public Debt series. Expenditures and receipts come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis' Current Expenditures and Current Receipts series respectively. All series are normalized using the BEA's Gross Domestic Product series.
History of Government Debt, Revenue and Expenditures as a fraction of GDP
Date | Total Federal Debt |
Total Federal Revenue |
Total Federal Expenditures |
Surplus / Deficit ( Receipts - Expenditures ) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 Q4 | — | — | 22.09% | — |
2013 Q3 | 98.97% | 17.59% | 22.62% | -5.03% |
2013 Q2 | 100.46% | 19.01% | 22.93% | -3.92% |
2013 Q1 | 101.43% | 17.54% | 22.70% | -5.16% |
2012 Q4 | 100.08% | 16.50% | 23.07% | -6.57% |
2012 Q3 | 98.23% | 16.24% | 23.09% | -6.84% |
2012 Q2 | 98.11% | 16.34% | 23.44% | -7.10% |
2012 Q1 | 97.29% | 16.49% | 23.31% | -6.82% |
2011 Q4 | 96.23% | 15.94% | 23.55% | -7.60% |
2011 Q3 | 94.74% | 16.11% | 24.00% | -7.89% |
2011 Q2 | 92.76% | 16.32% | 24.81% | -8.49% |
2011 Q1 | 93.62% | 16.44% | 24.61% | -8.17% |
2010 Q4 | 92.08% | 16.18% | 24.75% | -8.57% |
2010 Q3 | 90.11% | 16.15% | 24.92% | -8.77% |
2010 Q2 | 88.73% | 15.88% | 24.89% | -9.01% |
2010 Q1 | 87.05% | 15.74% | 24.95% | -9.22% |
2009 Q4 | 84.53% | 15.68% | 24.47% | -8.79% |
2009 Q3 | 82.80% | 15.38% | 24.71% | -9.33% |
2009 Q2 | 80.50% | 15.41% | 24.73% | -9.32% |
2009 Q1 | 77.37% | 15.39% | 22.63% | -7.24% |
2008 Q4 | 73.55% | 16.99% | 21.69% | -4.70% |
2008 Q3 | 67.53% | 16.89% | 21.37% | -4.48% |
2008 Q2 | 64.06% | 16.27% | 21.56% | -5.28% |
2008 Q1 | 64.32% | 17.95% | 20.74% | -2.79% |
2007 Q4 | 62.83% | 18.14% | 20.25% | -2.11% |
2007 Q3 | 61.82% | 18.23% | 20.21% | -1.98% |
2007 Q2 | 61.48% | 18.50% | 20.25% | -1.75% |
2007 Q1 | 62.17% | 18.65% | 20.16% | -1.51% |
2006 Q4 | 61.70% | 18.35% | 19.68% | -1.33% |
2006 Q3 | 61.16% | 18.37% | 20.06% | -1.69% |
2006 Q2 | 61.00% | 18.20% | 19.98% | -1.78% |
2006 Q1 | 61.33% | 18.15% | 19.94% | -1.78% |
2005 Q4 | 61.05% | 17.76% | 19.91% | -2.15% |
2005 Q3 | 60.07% | 17.50% | 19.84% | -2.34% |
2005 Q2 | 60.39% | 17.47% | 19.86% | -2.40% |
2005 Q1 | 60.68% | 17.47% | 19.91% | -2.45% |
2004 Q4 | 60.46% | 16.61% | 19.64% | -3.03% |
2004 Q3 | 59.66% | 16.63% | 19.65% | -3.02% |
2004 Q2 | 59.71% | 16.40% | 19.71% | -3.31% |
2004 Q1 | 59.47% | 16.24% | 19.92% | -3.68% |
2003 Q4 | 59.21% | 16.37% | 19.79% | -3.42% |
2003 Q3 | 58.33% | 15.78% | 19.85% | -4.07% |
2003 Q2 | 58.66% | 16.76% | 20.30% | -3.54% |
2003 Q1 | 57.53% | 16.79% | 19.76% | -2.97% |
2002 Q4 | 57.68% | 16.86% | 19.66% | -2.80% |
2002 Q3 | 56.42% | 16.88% | 19.40% | -2.51% |
2002 Q2 | 56.01% | 17.04% | 19.48% | -2.44% |
2002 Q1 | 55.42% | 17.19% | 19.30% | -2.11% |
2001 Q4 | 55.53% | 18.72% | 19.05% | -0.33% |
2001 Q3 | 54.56% | 17.87% | 19.09% | -1.23% |
2001 Q2 | 53.82% | 19.67% | 18.80% | 0.87% |
2001 Q1 | 54.92% | 20.06% | 18.83% | 1.23% |
2000 Q4 | 54.05% | 19.96% | 18.53% | 1.43% |
2000 Q3 | 54.75% | 19.98% | 18.50% | 1.48% |
2000 Q2 | 55.29% | 19.96% | 18.54% | 1.42% |
2000 Q1 | 57.53% | 20.31% | 18.57% | 1.74% |
1999 Q4 | 58.15% | 19.71% | 18.86% | 0.85% |
1999 Q3 | 58.20% | 19.64% | 18.91% | 0.73% |
1999 Q2 | 58.97% | 19.64% | 18.99% | 0.66% |
1999 Q1 | 59.80% | 19.66% | 19.16% | 0.50% |
1998 Q4 | 60.20% | 19.59% | 19.37% | 0.22% |
1998 Q3 | 60.42% | 19.70% | 19.46% | 0.24% |
1998 Q2 | 61.68% | 19.64% | 19.73% | -0.10% |
1998 Q1 | 62.35% | 19.57% | 19.83% | -0.25% |
1997 Q4 | 62.61% | 19.41% | 20.24% | -0.83% |
1997 Q3 | 62.28% | 19.37% | 20.16% | -0.79% |
1997 Q2 | 62.86% | 19.25% | 20.45% | -1.20% |
1997 Q1 | 64.04% | 19.17% | 20.61% | -1.44% |
1996 Q4 | 64.24% | 19.15% | 20.85% | -1.71% |
1996 Q3 | 64.04% | 18.86% | 20.94% | -2.08% |
1996 Q2 | 64.02% | 18.94% | 21.17% | -2.23% |
1996 Q1 | 64.84% | 18.65% | 21.48% | -2.83% |
1995 Q4 | 63.96% | 18.42% | 21.27% | -2.85% |
1995 Q3 | 64.54% | 18.41% | 21.60% | -3.18% |
1995 Q2 | 65.11% | 18.57% | 21.75% | -3.18% |
1995 Q1 | 64.47% | 18.34% | 21.71% | -3.37% |
1994 Q4 | 64.20% | 18.20% | 21.63% | -3.44% |
1994 Q3 | 63.83% | 18.18% | 21.64% | -3.46% |
1994 Q2 | 63.91% | 18.27% | 21.53% | -3.26% |
1994 Q1 | 64.12% | 17.96% | 21.70% | -3.73% |
1993 Q4 | 64.49% | 18.27% | 22.30% | -4.03% |
1993 Q3 | 63.90% | 17.83% | 22.42% | -4.59% |
1993 Q2 | 63.72% | 17.91% | 22.39% | -4.48% |
1993 Q1 | 62.69% | 17.43% | 22.48% | -5.05% |
1992 Q4 | 62.37% | 17.70% | 22.63% | -4.93% |
1992 Q3 | 61.71% | 17.47% | 22.69% | -5.22% |
1992 Q2 | 61.38% | 17.61% | 22.72% | -5.10% |
1992 Q1 | 60.83% | 17.69% | 22.78% | -5.09% |
1991 Q4 | 60.54% | 17.81% | 22.38% | -4.58% |
1991 Q3 | 58.94% | 17.82% | 22.15% | -4.33% |
1991 Q2 | 57.59% | 17.89% | 21.86% | -3.97% |
1991 Q1 | 57.23% | 18.11% | 21.16% | -3.04% |
1990 Q4 | 55.86% | 18.35% | 21.84% | -3.48% |
1990 Q3 | 53.62% | 18.16% | 21.42% | -3.26% |
1990 Q2 | 52.62% | 18.06% | 21.44% | -3.38% |
1990 Q1 | 51.81% | 18.05% | 21.36% | -3.31% |
1989 Q4 | 51.24% | 18.33% | 21.25% | -2.92% |
1989 Q3 | 50.03% | 18.29% | 21.15% | -2.86% |
1989 Q2 | 49.75% | 18.33% | 21.14% | -2.81% |
1989 Q1 | 49.59% | 18.66% | 21.12% | -2.47% |
1988 Q4 | 49.59% | 18.25% | 21.18% | -2.93% |
1988 Q3 | 49.10% | 18.24% | 21.09% | -2.85% |
1988 Q2 | 48.92% | 18.25% | 21.24% | -2.99% |
1988 Q1 | 48.87% | 18.49% | 21.71% | -3.22% |
1987 Q4 | 48.41% | 18.38% | 21.63% | -3.25% |
1987 Q3 | 47.96% | 18.53% | 21.67% | -3.13% |
1987 Q2 | 47.90% | 19.02% | 21.95% | -2.93% |
1987 Q1 | 47.44% | 17.90% | 22.01% | -4.11% |
1986 Q4 | 47.43% | 18.07% | 22.25% | -4.18% |
1986 Q3 | 46.01% | 17.73% | 22.71% | -4.98% |
1986 Q2 | 45.21% | 17.67% | 22.59% | -4.92% |
1986 Q1 | 43.99% | 17.75% | 22.21% | -4.46% |
1985 Q4 | 43.70% | 17.76% | 22.28% | -4.52% |
1985 Q3 | 41.49% | 17.82% | 22.28% | -4.46% |
1985 Q2 | 41.25% | 17.32% | 22.37% | -5.05% |
1985 Q1 | 40.38% | 18.45% | 22.41% | -3.96% |
1984 Q4 | 40.09% | 17.57% | 22.52% | -4.95% |
1984 Q3 | 38.47% | 17.46% | 22.24% | -4.78% |
1984 Q2 | 37.68% | 17.60% | 22.31% | -4.71% |
1984 Q1 | 37.41% | 17.73% | 22.32% | -4.59% |
1983 Q4 | 37.16% | 17.39% | 22.53% | -5.13% |
1983 Q3 | 37.30% | 17.43% | 23.32% | -5.89% |
1983 Q2 | 36.82% | 18.12% | 23.72% | -5.60% |
1983 Q1 | 35.76% | 17.92% | 23.87% | -5.95% |
1982 Q4 | 35.13% | 18.09% | 24.26% | -6.17% |
1982 Q3 | 33.92% | 18.24% | 23.46% | -5.22% |
1982 Q2 | 32.41% | 18.73% | 22.91% | -4.18% |
1982 Q1 | 32.42% | 18.86% | 22.93% | -4.07% |
1981 Q4 | 31.33% | 19.00% | 22.45% | -3.45% |
1981 Q3 | 30.60% | 19.44% | 21.97% | -2.53% |
1981 Q2 | 30.66% | 19.48% | 21.86% | -2.39% |
1981 Q1 | 30.80% | 19.39% | 21.68% | -2.29% |
1980 Q4 | 31.07% | 18.84% | 21.97% | -3.13% |
1980 Q3 | 31.74% | 18.70% | 22.21% | -3.51% |
1980 Q2 | 31.34% | 18.40% | 21.52% | -3.12% |
1980 Q1 | 30.88% | 18.53% | 20.80% | -2.27% |
1979 Q4 | 30.95% | 18.45% | 20.44% | -1.99% |
1979 Q3 | 30.95% | 18.48% | 20.15% | -1.68% |
1979 Q2 | 31.01% | 18.52% | 20.03% | -1.51% |
1979 Q1 | 31.47% | 18.54% | 20.10% | -1.56% |
1978 Q4 | 31.79% | 18.26% | 20.24% | -1.98% |
1978 Q3 | 32.16% | 18.14% | 20.35% | -2.21% |
1978 Q2 | 32.06% | 17.85% | 20.37% | -2.52% |
1978 Q1 | 33.41% | 17.60% | 21.14% | -3.54% |
1977 Q4 | 33.15% | 17.46% | 20.96% | -3.50% |
1977 Q3 | 32.93% | 17.32% | 20.76% | -3.44% |
1977 Q2 | 32.74% | 17.52% | 20.74% | -3.22% |
1977 Q1 | 33.59% | 17.41% | 21.03% | -3.62% |
1976 Q4 | 33.72% | 17.14% | 21.42% | -4.28% |
1976 Q3 | 33.57% | 17.27% | 21.47% | -4.21% |
1976 Q2 | 33.41% | 17.16% | 21.26% | -4.10% |
1976 Q1 | 32.91% | 17.08% | 21.51% | -4.43% |
1975 Q4 | 32.65% | 16.79% | 21.93% | -5.14% |
1975 Q3 | 32.31% | 16.82% | 22.05% | -5.23% |
1975 Q2 | 32.19% | 14.78% | 22.77% | -7.99% |
1975 Q1 | 31.47% | 17.15% | 21.79% | -4.64% |
1974 Q4 | 30.73% | 17.73% | 21.05% | -3.32% |
1974 Q3 | 30.80% | 18.39% | 20.70% | -2.31% |
1974 Q2 | 30.91% | 18.02% | 20.49% | -2.47% |
1974 Q1 | 31.69% | 17.79% | 20.15% | -2.36% |
1973 Q4 | 31.71% | 17.47% | 19.72% | -2.25% |
1973 Q3 | 32.06% | 17.37% | 19.92% | -2.55% |
1973 Q2 | 32.26% | 17.39% | 20.27% | -2.88% |
1973 Q1 | 33.22% | 17.56% | 20.47% | -2.90% |
1972 Q4 | 33.67% | 17.05% | 21.39% | -4.34% |
1972 Q3 | 33.54% | 16.96% | 20.10% | -3.15% |
1972 Q2 | 33.57% | 17.05% | 21.09% | -4.05% |
1972 Q1 | 34.64% | 17.27% | 20.98% | -3.70% |
1971 Q4 | 35.53% | 16.26% | 20.75% | -4.49% |
1971 Q3 | 34.93% | 16.17% | 20.55% | -4.38% |
1971 Q2 | 34.27% | 16.42% | 20.94% | -4.52% |
1971 Q1 | 34.42% | 16.48% | 20.48% | -4.00% |
1970 Q4 | 35.65% | 16.76% | 20.84% | -4.09% |
1970 Q3 | 34.79% | 16.89% | 20.51% | -3.63% |
1970 Q2 | 34.58% | 17.51% | 20.56% | -3.05% |
1970 Q1 | 35.31% | 17.69% | 19.81% | -2.12% |
1969 Q4 | 35.38% | 18.50% | 19.71% | -1.21% |
1969 Q3 | 34.95% | 18.52% | 19.35% | -0.83% |
1969 Q2 | 34.89% | 19.12% | 19.27% | -0.15% |
1969 Q1 | 36.12% | 19.12% | 18.90% | 0.22% |
1968 Q4 | 36.91% | 18.65% | 19.61% | -0.96% |
1968 Q3 | 37.25% | 18.49% | 19.55% | -1.06% |
1968 Q2 | 36.89% | 17.62% | 19.61% | -1.99% |
1968 Q1 | 38.36% | 17.59% | 19.45% | -1.85% |
1967 Q4 | 39.02% | 17.15% | 19.36% | -2.21% |
1967 Q3 | 38.76% | 16.99% | 19.16% | -2.17% |
1967 Q2 | 37.94% | 16.88% | 19.28% | -2.40% |
1967 Q1 | 39.12% | 16.86% | 19.14% | -2.28% |
1966 Q4 | 39.44% | 16.98% | 18.22% | -1.23% |
1966 Q3 | 39.56% | 16.95% | 17.90% | -0.95% |
1966 Q2 | 39.16% | 16.94% | 17.64% | -0.71% |
1966 Q1 | 40.26% | 16.56% | 17.06% | -0.50% |
1965 Q4 | — | 15.86% | 17.10% | -1.24% |
1965 Q3 | — | 15.89% | 17.14% | -1.25% |
1965 Q2 | — | 16.51% | 16.78% | -0.27% |
1965 Q1 | — | 16.55% | 16.67% | -0.13% |
1964 Q4 | — | 16.18% | 16.91% | -0.73% |
1964 Q3 | — | 16.08% | 17.05% | -0.97% |
1964 Q2 | — | 15.95% | 17.45% | -1.50% |
1964 Q1 | — | 16.73% | 17.55% | -0.82% |
1963 Q4 | — | 17.36% | 17.72% | -0.35% |
1963 Q3 | — | 17.38% | 17.63% | -0.25% |
1963 Q2 | — | 17.55% | 17.73% | -0.17% |
1963 Q1 | — | 17.46% | 18.00% | -0.55% |
1962 Q4 | — | 17.22% | 18.12% | -0.90% |
1962 Q3 | — | 17.13% | 17.93% | -0.80% |
1962 Q2 | — | 16.94% | 17.87% | -0.93% |
1962 Q1 | — | 16.90% | 17.79% | -0.89% |
1961 Q4 | — | 17.04% | 17.54% | -0.50% |
1961 Q3 | — | 16.83% | 17.69% | -0.86% |
1961 Q2 | — | 16.83% | 17.96% | -1.13% |
1961 Q1 | — | 16.82% | 17.68% | -0.86% |
1960 Q4 | — | 16.97% | 17.87% | -0.91% |
1960 Q3 | — | 17.09% | 17.16% | -0.07% |
1960 Q2 | — | 17.30% | 17.06% | 0.24% |
1960 Q1 | — | 17.52% | 16.66% | 0.87% |
1959 Q4 | — | 16.46% | 17.38% | -0.93% |
1959 Q3 | — | 16.47% | 17.27% | -0.80% |
1959 Q2 | — | 16.84% | 17.19% | -0.34% |
1959 Q1 | — | 16.55% | 17.43% | -0.88% |
1958 Q4 | — | 16.07% | 18.19% | -2.12% |
1958 Q3 | — | 15.76% | 18.33% | -2.57% |
1958 Q2 | — | 15.55% | 18.70% | -3.15% |
1958 Q1 | — | 15.71% | 17.89% | -2.18% |
1957 Q4 | — | 16.21% | 17.83% | -1.62% |
1957 Q3 | — | 16.64% | 16.97% | -0.33% |
1957 Q2 | — | 16.90% | 17.22% | -0.32% |
1957 Q1 | — | 17.08% | 17.00% | 0.08% |
1956 Q4 | — | 16.95% | 16.65% | 0.30% |
1956 Q3 | — | 16.68% | 16.42% | 0.27% |
1956 Q2 | — | 16.92% | 16.74% | 0.18% |
1956 Q1 | — | 16.84% | 16.32% | 0.52% |
1955 Q4 | — | 16.83% | 16.38% | 0.46% |
1955 Q3 | — | 16.71% | 16.87% | -0.16% |
1955 Q2 | — | 16.65% | 16.79% | -0.14% |
1955 Q1 | — | 16.51% | 17.23% | -0.72% |
1954 Q4 | — | 16.09% | 17.66% | -1.57% |
1954 Q3 | — | 15.91% | 17.85% | -1.94% |
1954 Q2 | — | 15.96% | 18.13% | -2.17% |
1954 Q1 | — | 15.96% | 18.50% | -2.54% |
1953 Q4 | — | 16.64% | 19.04% | -2.41% |
1953 Q3 | — | 17.74% | 18.41% | -0.66% |
1953 Q2 | — | 17.97% | 18.81% | -0.84% |
1953 Q1 | — | 18.04% | 18.43% | -0.39% |
1952 Q4 | — | 17.94% | 18.60% | -0.66% |
1952 Q3 | — | 17.74% | 19.04% | -1.30% |
1952 Q2 | — | 17.93% | 18.62% | -0.69% |
1952 Q1 | — | 17.96% | 17.66% | 0.31% |
1951 Q4 | — | 18.12% | 17.92% | 0.20% |
1951 Q3 | — | 17.31% | 17.45% | -0.14% |
1951 Q2 | — | 17.88% | 16.43% | 1.45% |
1951 Q1 | — | 19.17% | 15.40% | 3.78% |
1950 Q4 | — | 17.64% | 14.52% | 3.12% |
1950 Q3 | — | 16.79% | 13.68% | 3.11% |
1950 Q2 | — | 15.65% | 15.86% | -0.21% |
1950 Q1 | — | 14.72% | 18.85% | -4.13% |
1949 Q4 | — | 13.36% | 16.83% | -3.47% |
1949 Q3 | — | 13.68% | 17.16% | -3.48% |
1949 Q2 | — | 13.95% | 17.34% | -3.39% |
1949 Q1 | — | 14.49% | 16.70% | -2.21% |
1948 Q4 | — | 14.71% | 15.68% | -0.96% |
1948 Q3 | — | 14.88% | 15.31% | -0.43% |
1948 Q2 | — | 15.57% | 14.66% | 0.92% |
1948 Q1 | — | 16.53% | 14.69% | 1.84% |
1947 Q4 | — | 16.83% | 14.79% | 2.04% |
1947 Q3 | — | 16.63% | 16.91% | -0.28% |
1947 Q2 | — | 17.26% | 16.40% | 0.85% |
1947 Q1 | — | 17.85% | 16.70% | 1.15% |