United States — Central government deficit (% of GDP)
% of GDP · Annual · 1792–2025 · 234 observations
About this series
The central government deficit series records the period's fiscal balance under the source's accounting and sign convention. A deficit indicates a shortfall; the series is a flow, not a debt stock. This series expresses that measure as a percentage of GDP for the matching period.
For the United States, the central government deficit reading stood at −3.12% of GDP in 2025. Against −4.26% of GDP in 2024, the period change was +1.13 percentage points. It was above the selected 10-year average of −3.82% of GDP.
Get the full series
- Annual data, 1792–2025
- All 3 sources, downloadable
Latest observations
2000–2025
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | -3.12 % of GDP |
| 2024 | -4.26 % of GDP |
| 2023 | -4.4 % of GDP |
| 2022 | -1.98 % of GDP |
| 2021 | -8.81 % of GDP |
15 earlier values
| 2020 | -9 % of GDP |
| 2019 | -2.69 % of GDP |
| 2018 | -2.27 % of GDP |
| 2017 | -0.44 % of GDP |
| 2016 | -1.22 % of GDP |
| 2015 | -0.6 % of GDP |
| 2014 | -1.13 % of GDP |
| 2013 | -1.42 % of GDP |
| 2012 | -3.73 % of GDP |
| 2011 | -5.3 % of GDP |
| 2010 | -6.77 % of GDP |
| 2009 | -7.08 % of GDP |
| 2008 | -3.55 % of GDP |
| 2007 | -1.13 % of GDP |
| 2006 | -0.92 % of GDP |
Values before 2006, back to 2000, are on the chart — hover to read them.