How much does the government spend per person?

USA Facts -  The federal government spent $6.48 trillion in 2022, down $920 billion from the previous year (after adjusting for inflation). For context, the federal government collected $5.03 trillion in 2022.

Per-person spending was $19,434, down 13% from 2021. Most of this spending included grants to state and local governments ($3,707 per person on average) and Social Security ($3,657 on average).

Expenditures also included $2,282 per person for national defense, $395 on programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and $1,451 toward paying off national debt interest.

Over the last 40 years, a portion of per-person spending has shifted from national defense to social programs. Spending on defense and support for veterans comprised an average of 28.7% of federal expenditures in the 1980s. From 2013 to 2022, the average was 18.6%.