Spending Units: By default, government spending is displayed in billions of dollars. But using a dropdown control in the table heading you can select $ billion (2000), and percent of GDP.

Chart Title: You can create a title for your chart. Use the text field to enter a title and click the button to the right of the text field.

US or State: By default, the chart shows overall United States government spending. But you can select spending for individual states by selecting the state dropdown control in the table heading.

State, Local: By default, you can chart state spending or local spending by clicking a radio button in the selection table. But you can chart state-and-local combined by selecting state n local in the state/local dropdown control in the table heading.

View: There are many ways to view the spending data. The default view is functional. There is a census view that conforms with the spending categories used by the US Census Bureau in its Statistical Abstract. There is a COFOG view that categorizes spending using the UN methodology.

Line/Bar: By default, the data series are displayed as line charts. But you can also select a bar chart.

Data Stack: By default, the data series are “stacked” when displayed on the chart. But you can change the setting to “un stack” the data series.

Chart Size: By default, the chart is displayed at medium size. But you can use the dropdown control to change the size.

Color: By default charts are displayed with color data lines and fill. You can change this to grayscale if you want.

US Budget Year: By default, the chart displays budgeted and estimated federal spending in the current US Budget submitted to the Congress by the president. But you can look at previous budgeted numbers using this dropdown control.

Data Range

Start Year: You can select any start year you want using the dropdown control in the table heading. At the top and bottom of the dropdown only years ending in “0” are shown. Select a start year to get close, then select the start year you want.

End Year: You can select any end year you want using the dropdown control in the table heading. At the top and bottom of the dropdown only years ending in “0” are shown. Select an end year to get close, then select the end year you want.

If you’d like to create your own custom chart of spending data you should use the table above to make your selections.

Select the year range: Select the start year and the end year you want by selecting the years you want in the two year dropdown boxes.
Select spending items: Just select the spending item you want from the dropdown control. If you select from the < select > you will add another data series to your chart. Up to 5 data series are allowed at once. Click the “X” link to remove a data series from the chart.
Select units: You can select the display in billions of nominal (i.e. inflated) dollars, billions of real (i.e. year 2000) dollars, or as percent of GDP.

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Download Data File

Click button to download CSV file of dataset in chart

Download Tab-delimited Data

Copy and Paste: To copy and paste data into spreadsheet for analysis, just copy the tab-delimited text in the textbox below (click cursor in text box, then press ctrl-A then press ctrl-C) and paste it into your spreadsheet.

Year GDP-US Total Spending-fed 1850 2.56 1.75 a 1851 2.7 2.00 a 1852 3.04 1.69 a 1853 3.28 1.71 a 1854 3.68 1.81 a 1855 3.94 1.77 a 1856 4.01 1.99 a 1857 4.14 1.92 a 1858 4.05 2.15 a 1859 4.38 1.94 a 1860 4.35 1.79 a 1861 4.6 1.74 a 1862 5.79 8.39 a 1863 7.62 9.53 a 1864 9.46 9.28 a 1865 9.88 13.27 a 1866 8.99 5.96 a 1867 8.34 4.52 a 1868 8.15 4.91 a 1869 7.85 4.41 a 1870 7.74 4.31 a 1871 7.59 4.17 a 1872 8.23 3.70 a 1873 8.75 3.65 a 1874 8.48 3.95 a 1875 8.16 3.78 a 1876 8.31 3.59 a 1877 8.52 3.23 a 1878 8.38 3.24 a 1879 9.36 3.21 a 1880 10.4 2.92 a 1881 11.6 2.59 a 1882 12.2 2.45 a 1883 12.3 2.51 a 1884 11.8 2.47 a 1885 11.6 2.67 a 1886 12.2 2.41 a 1887 13.1 2.45 a 1888 13.9 2.33 a 1889 13.9 2.60 a 1890 15.1 2.55 a 1891 15.4 2.85 a 1892 16.4 2.57 a 1893 15.4 3.02 a 1894 14.1 3.21 a 1895 15.6 2.84 a 1896 15.5 2.86 a 1897 16.2 2.84 a 1898 18.1 2.99 a 1899 19.5 3.62 a 1900 20.6 3.05 a 1901 22.3 2.87 a 1902 24.1 2.37 a 1903 25.9 2.32 i 1904 25.7 2.45 i 1905 28.8 2.29 i 1906 31 2.24 i 1907 33.9 2.15 i 1908 30.1 2.53 i 1909 32.2 2.49 i 1910 33.4 2.51 i 1911 34.3 2.57 i 1912 37.4 2.47 i 1913 39.1 2.48 a 1914 36.5 2.75 i 1915 38.7 2.71 i 1916 49.6 2.10 i 1917 59.7 3.86 i 1918 75.8 17.22 i 1919 78.3 24.13 i 1920 88.4 7.67 i 1921 73.6 7.49 i 1922 73.4 5.13 a 1923 85.4 4.35 i 1924 86.9 4.22 i 1925 90.6 4.00 i 1926 96.9 3.69 i 1927 95.5 3.70 a 1928 97.4 3.77 i 1929 103.6 3.68 i 1930 91.2 4.34 i 1931 76.5 5.37 i 1932 58.7 7.27 a 1933 56.4 9.05 i 1934 66 9.00 a 1935 73.3 10.30 i 1936 83.8 10.94 a 1937 91.9 9.58 i 1938 86.1 9.81 a 1939 92.2 10.04 i 1940 101.4 9.92 a 1941 126.7 11.18 i 1942 161.9 21.96 a 1943 198.6 41.78 i 1944 219.8 45.73 a 1945 223 47.93 i 1946 222.2 29.94 a 1947 244.1 16.96 i 1948 269.1 13.23 a 1949 267.2 15.04 i 1950 293.7 15.25 a 1951 339.3 14.42 a 1952 358.3 19.97 a 1953 379.3 21.09 a 1954 380.4 20.42 a 1955 414.7 17.71 a 1956 437.4 17.37 a 1957 461.1 17.74 a 1958 467.2 18.42 a 1959 506.6 18.46 a 1960 526.4 18.48 a 1961 544.8 19.25 a 1962 585.7 18.24 a 1963 617.8 18.02 a 1964 663.6 17.86 a 1965 719.1 16.44 a 1966 787.7 17.08 a 1967 832.4 18.92 a 1968 909.8 19.58 a 1969 984.4 18.66 a 1970 1038.3 18.84 a 1971 1126.8 18.65 a 1972 1237.9 18.63 a 1973 1382.3 17.78 a 1974 1499.5 17.96 a 1975 1637.7 20.29 a 1976 1824.6 20.38 a 1977 2030.1 20.16 a 1978 2293.8 20.00 a 1979 2562.2 19.67 a 1980 2788.1 21.20 a 1981 3126.8 21.69 a 1982 3253.2 22.92 a 1983 3534.6 22.87 a 1984 3930.9 21.67 a 1985 4217.5 22.44 a 1986 4460.1 22.21 a 1987 4736.4 21.20 a 1988 5100.4 20.87 a 1989 5482.1 20.86 a 1990 5800.5 21.60 a 1991 5992.1 22.10 a 1992 6342.3 21.78 a 1993 6667.4 21.14 a 1994 7085.2 20.63 a 1995 7414.7 20.44 a 1996 7838.5 19.91 a 1997 8332.4 19.22 a 1998 8793.5 18.79 a 1999 9353.5 18.20 a 2000 9951.5 17.98 a 2001 10286.2 18.11 a 2002 10642.3 18.90 a 2003 11142.1 19.39 a 2004 11867.8 19.32 a 2005 12638.4 19.56 a 2006 13398.9 19.82 a 2007 14077.6 19.38 a 2008 14441.4 20.65 a 2009 14258.2 28.04 b 2010 14728.8 24.38 b Legend: a - actual reported i - interpolated between actual reported values g - 'guesstimated' projection by usgovernmentspending.com b - budgeted estimate in US fy10 budget

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Below is a formatted version of the data displayed in the chart.

US Government Spending As Percent Of GDP
Fiscal Years 1850 to 2010
Year	GDP-US $ billion	Total Spending -fed pct GDP
1850	2.56	1.75	a
1851	2.7	2.00	a
1852	3.04	1.69	a
1853	3.28	1.71	a
1854	3.68	1.81	a
1855	3.94	1.77	a
1856	4.01	1.99	a
1857	4.14	1.92	a
1858	4.05	2.15	a
1859	4.38	1.94	a
1860	4.35	1.79	a
1861	4.6	1.74	a
1862	5.79	8.39	a
1863	7.62	9.53	a
1864	9.46	9.28	a
1865	9.88	13.27	a
1866	8.99	5.96	a
1867	8.34	4.52	a
1868	8.15	4.91	a
1869	7.85	4.41	a
1870	7.74	4.31	a
1871	7.59	4.17	a
1872	8.23	3.70	a
1873	8.75	3.65	a
1874	8.48	3.95	a
1875	8.16	3.78	a
1876	8.31	3.59	a
1877	8.52	3.23	a
1878	8.38	3.24	a
1879	9.36	3.21	a
1880	10.4	2.92	a
1881	11.6	2.59	a
1882	12.2	2.45	a
1883	12.3	2.51	a
1884	11.8	2.47	a
1885	11.6	2.67	a
1886	12.2	2.41	a
1887	13.1	2.45	a
1888	13.9	2.33	a
1889	13.9	2.60	a
1890	15.1	2.55	a
1891	15.4	2.85	a
1892	16.4	2.57	a
1893	15.4	3.02	a
1894	14.1	3.21	a
1895	15.6	2.84	a
1896	15.5	2.86	a
1897	16.2	2.84	a
1898	18.1	2.99	a
1899	19.5	3.62	a
1900	20.6	3.05	a
1901	22.3	2.87	a
1902	24.1	2.37	a
1903	25.9	2.32	i
1904	25.7	2.45	i
1905	28.8	2.29	i
1906	31	2.24	i
1907	33.9	2.15	i
1908	30.1	2.53	i
1909	32.2	2.49	i
1910	33.4	2.51	i
1911	34.3	2.57	i
1912	37.4	2.47	i
1913	39.1	2.48	a
1914	36.5	2.75	i
1915	38.7	2.71	i
1916	49.6	2.10	i
1917	59.7	3.86	i
1918	75.8	17.22	i
1919	78.3	24.13	i
1920	88.4	7.67	i
1921	73.6	7.49	i
1922	73.4	5.13	a
1923	85.4	4.35	i
1924	86.9	4.22	i
1925	90.6	4.00	i
1926	96.9	3.69	i
1927	95.5	3.70	a
1928	97.4	3.77	i
1929	103.6	3.68	i
1930	91.2	4.34	i
1931	76.5	5.37	i
1932	58.7	7.27	a
1933	56.4	9.05	i
1934	66	9.00	a
1935	73.3	10.30	i
1936	83.8	10.94	a
1937	91.9	9.58	i
1938	86.1	9.81	a
1939	92.2	10.04	i
1940	101.4	9.92	a
1941	126.7	11.18	i
1942	161.9	21.96	a
1943	198.6	41.78	i
1944	219.8	45.73	a
1945	223	47.93	i
1946	222.2	29.94	a
1947	244.1	16.96	i
1948	269.1	13.23	a
1949	267.2	15.04	i
1950	293.7	15.25	a
1951	339.3	14.42	a
1952	358.3	19.97	a
1953	379.3	21.09	a
1954	380.4	20.42	a
1955	414.7	17.71	a
1956	437.4	17.37	a
1957	461.1	17.74	a
1958	467.2	18.42	a
1959	506.6	18.46	a
1960	526.4	18.48	a
1961	544.8	19.25	a
1962	585.7	18.24	a
1963	617.8	18.02	a
1964	663.6	17.86	a
1965	719.1	16.44	a
1966	787.7	17.08	a
1967	832.4	18.92	a
1968	909.8	19.58	a
1969	984.4	18.66	a
1970	1038.3	18.84	a
1971	1126.8	18.65	a
1972	1237.9	18.63	a
1973	1382.3	17.78	a
1974	1499.5	17.96	a
1975	1637.7	20.29	a
1976	1824.6	20.38	a
1977	2030.1	20.16	a
1978	2293.8	20.00	a
1979	2562.2	19.67	a
1980	2788.1	21.20	a
1981	3126.8	21.69	a
1982	3253.2	22.92	a
1983	3534.6	22.87	a
1984	3930.9	21.67	a
1985	4217.5	22.44	a
1986	4460.1	22.21	a
1987	4736.4	21.20	a
1988	5100.4	20.87	a
1989	5482.1	20.86	a
1990	5800.5	21.60	a
1991	5992.1	22.10	a
1992	6342.3	21.78	a
1993	6667.4	21.14	a
1994	7085.2	20.63	a
1995	7414.7	20.44	a
1996	7838.5	19.91	a
1997	8332.4	19.22	a
1998	8793.5	18.79	a
1999	9353.5	18.20	a
2000	9951.5	17.98	a
2001	10286.2	18.11	a
2002	10642.3	18.90	a
2003	11142.1	19.39	a
2004	11867.8	19.32	a
2005	12638.4	19.56	a
2006	13398.9	19.82	a
2007	14077.6	19.38	a
2008	14441.4	20.65	a
2009	14258.2	28.04	b
2010	14728.8	24.38	b
Legend: a - actual reported i - interpolated between actual reported values g - 'guesstimated' projection by usgovernmentspending.com b - budgeted estimate in US fy10 budget

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Sources

US Government - Historical Debt Outstanding
US Treasury's measure of US National Debt

Measuring Worth - GDP Series for US and UK
includes GDP and chained GDP for US; GDP and chained GDP for UK

Gross Domestic Product by State
from Bureau of Economic Analysis

US Population Estimates from 1900
Census Bureau's annual population estimate from 1900 to 1999

2005 Census of Governments - Finance Technical Documentation
Contains Census Bureau spending and revenue codes

JpGraph Chart Library
Open source graph creating Library for PHP.

Statistical Abstract of the United States
historical editions of Census Bureau's publication. From 1878.

Historical US Federal Expenditure by Function 1902-1970
Table from Historical Statistics of the United States: Chapter Y: Government. Includes US Federal Expenditure 1902-1970, p 1123-1124.

Budget of the United States Government
Main page for latest US government budget documents.

State and Local Government Finances
Census Bureau main page for state and local government taxes and spending.

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table • chart • deficit/gdp • spend/gdp • debt/gdp • us gdp • us real gdp • state gdp • state pop • 2009 • breakdown • federal • state • local • us budget • 2010 • california • texas

Headline

Now Updated with 2008 State and Local Numbers

usgovernmentspending.com is now updated with the latest numbers for State and Local Spending data from the US Census Bureau. The latest values are for FY 2008. State and local spending and revenue after 2008 are "guesstimated" by projecting the change between 2007 and 2008 to subsequent years.

Note: usgovernmentspending.com always shows total spending, including federal, state, and local.

News

Budget News

Obama to send $3.8 trillion budget to Congress on 2/1/2010
Obama Budget Freezes Much Domestic Spending, says New York TImes.

FY 2011 budget will include phantom cap-and-trade revenue
The White House told Sen. John Kerry's office that the president plans to assume revenue from the controversial climate policy approach. Kerry aides said they had assurances the revenue won't be designated for issues unrelated to energy policy and combating climate change.

W.H. official: FY11 budget "next week"
Deputy Budget Director Rob Nabors announces that the federal budget for FY 2011 will be released week of Feb 1-5.

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Quick Links

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Masthead

usgovernmentspending.com was designed and executed by:

Christopher Chantrill.

Email here.

Education

“We have met with families in which for weeks together, not an article of sustenance but potatoes had been used; yet for every child the hard-earned sum was provided to send them to school.”
E. G. West, Education and the State

Category (max 5)	Sub-category	Fed	Gov. Xfer	State	Local	Total
Data Series: Select a spending series you want to chart from a dropdown on the left. If you select on the bottom dropdown you will add a data series (up to a maximum of five). The right-hand dropdown allows you to replace a data series with a more narrowly focused series. Click the “X” link to remove a data series from the chart.							X

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