The federal government spent $6.8 trillion in 2024, up 6.7% from the previous year after adjusting for inflation.
Spending per person totaled $19,932 per person, a 5.6% increase from 2023. Expenditures were distributed across several major categories, with the largest portions going towards Social Security at $4,295, defense and veterans spending at $3,518, and transfers to state and local governments at $3,368.
Federal spending neared $20,000 per person in 2024.
Per-capita federal expenditures by source, adjusted for inflation (2024 FY dollars)
It should be noted that these per person estimates are averages, and don’t necessarily represent the experience of any particular person. Large portions of federal expenditures are for Americans who require aid or assistance through social programs, while others don’t require this assistance.
How much did the federal government spend per person in 2024?
The federal government spent $19,434 for every one of the 340 million people in the US, on average. This is nearly double the amount spent on the average person in 1980 after adjusting for inflation.
Expenditures are broken up into different categories, such as:
- Social Security, which helps Americans save for retirement and provide financial income for people with disabilities. In 2024, the government spent an average of $4,295 per person in this category, or 21.6% of all spending.
- National defense and support for the veterans, including payments to the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. In 2022, the government spent $3,094 per person on average toward this category, with $2,282 toward national defense, and $812 toward supporting veterans.
- Standard of living and aid to individuals, including cash and non-cash aid programs like SNAP and medical assistance. In 2024, the government spent an average of $1,334 per person in this category, accounting for 6.7% of all spending.
- Medicare, the nation’s federal health insurance program for people 65 or older and those with certain disabilities and conditions. In 2024, the government spent an average of $2,570 per person, or 12.9% of spending, here.
- Net interest on debt. In 2024, the government spent an average of $2,587 per person in this category, or 13.0% of all spending. This category increased by 2.3 percentage points from 2023 to 2024.
- Grants to state and local governments. In 2024, the government spent an average of $3,368 per person toward this category.
- Other spending. In 2024, the government spent an average of $2,260 per person on other programs, including $443 on the economy and infrastructure, $391 toward education, and $257 on public health services.
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How has federal spending changed over time?
Since the 1980s, per-capita spending has shifted away from defense and veterans and towards programs like Medicare and transfers to states and local governments, much of which also goes towards health programs in Medicaid and CHIP. Pandemic-era spikes in spending on individual aid, the economy, and education have receded.
The amount the federal government spends on paying interest on the debt has also fluctuated. From 1981 to 2001, at least 10% of spending went towards net interest on the debt, but beginning in 2002, less than 10% did. However, after hitting a low at 5.1% in 2021, the share has increased in each year since, reaching 13.0% in 2024.
Federal spending has shifted over decades, with defense down and Medicare up.
Share of federal spending by type, 1980–2024
Federal funding is also distributed among various departments and agencies depending on the programs they oversee.
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