North America · OECD · G20 · NATO
Data checked 28 Oct 2026 · next scheduled check 1 Jan 2027 · UN World Population Prospects (via World Bank) released 1 Jul 2026 · World Bank WDI released 8 Oct 2026
Total spending · 2025
22.8%
+2.9 pts since 1995
Welfare · 2025
7.42%
+0.1 pts since 1995
Healthcare · 2025
6.42%
+2.8 pts since 1995
Defence · 2025
2.98%
-0.6 pts since 1995
Education · 2025
0.12%
-0.3 pts since 1995
Debt interest · 2025
3.15%
+0.1 pts since 1995
Gross debt · 2025
124.4%
of GDP · +71 pts since 2001
Population · 2025
341.8m
28.4% since 1995
Public-sector employment
- 2,682,000 federal government employees (incl. Postal Service) (central/federal government) · US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, CES9091000001 · as of Sept 2026
- 23,327,000 all government employees (federal, state and local) (all government) · US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, CES9000000001 · as of Sept 2026
- 2,083,300 federal civilian employees, excluding the Postal Service (civil service) · US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, CES9091100001 · as of Sept 2026
Welfare rose from 7.3% to 11.7% of GDP between 1995 and 2021, then fell to 7.4% by 2025.
Healthcare rose from 3.6% to 7.1% of GDP between 1995 and 2020, then fell to 6.4% by 2025.
Defence rose from 3.6% to 4.6% of GDP between 1995 and 2010, then fell to 3.0% by 2025.
Education rose from 0.4% to 2.5% of GDP between 1995 and 2022, then fell to 0.1% by 2025.
Debt interest fell from 3.0% to 1.2% of GDP between 1995 and 2015, then rose to 3.2% by 2025.
Total spending rose from 19.8% to 30.5% of GDP between 1995 and 2020, then fell to 22.8% by 2025.
Gross debt rose from 53.5% to 132.6% of GDP between 2001 and 2020, then fell to 124.4% by 2025.
Population grew from 266.3 million in 1995 to 341.8 million in 2025; the UN projects 373.1 million by 2050.