Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in United States

United States: Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) was 0.345 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
0.345
Change on year
up 24.4%
World rank
56th
of 65 countries
All-time high
0.3926
in 1990
All-time low
0.2637
in 2002
Years of data
31
1990–2020

Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in United States, 1990–2020

00.10.20.30.41990200520201990: 0.3931991: 0.3931992: 0.3581993: 0.3511994: 0.3361995: 0.3261996: 0.3221997: 0.3151998: 0.3081999: 0.3052000: 0.3012001: 0.2682002: 0.2642003: 0.2722004: 0.2792005: 0.2882006: 0.2822007: 0.2832008: 0.3022009: 0.2952010: 0.3042011: 0.3062012: 0.2922013: 0.2782014: 0.2752015: 0.2642016: 0.2652017: 0.2672018: 0.2722019: 0.2772020: 0.345

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

The most recent figure for expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in United States is 0.345, measured in 2020.

That represents a change of up 24.4% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in United States peaked at 0.3926 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.2637, in 2002.

United States ranks 56th of 65 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.

Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in United States, year by year

Annual values for Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general government spending), Percent (Central government) in United States, 1990 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1990 0.3926 —
1991 0.3926 -0.0%
1992 0.3585 -8.7%
1993 0.3505 -2.2%
1994 0.3362 -4.1%
1995 0.3264 -2.9%
1996 0.3222 -1.3%
1997 0.3153 -2.2%
1998 0.3077 -2.4%
1999 0.3046 -1.0%
2000 0.3008 -1.3%
2001 0.2681 -10.9%
2002 0.2637 -1.6%
2003 0.2724 +3.3%
2004 0.2785 +2.3%
2005 0.2883 +3.5%
2006 0.2816 -2.3%
2007 0.2825 +0.3%
2008 0.3018 +6.8%
2009 0.2949 -2.3%
2010 0.3036 +2.9%
2011 0.3061 +0.8%
2012 0.2924 -4.5%
2013 0.2781 -4.9%
2014 0.2749 -1.1%
2015 0.2639 -4.0%
2016 0.2647 +0.3%
2017 0.2667 +0.7%
2018 0.272 +2.0%
2019 0.2774 +2.0%
2020 0.345 +24.4%

United States compared with similar countries

  • United States's 0.345 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.475, 73% of the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.3407 0.3046 0.3926 10
2000s 0.2833 0.2637 0.3018 10
2010s 0.28 0.2639 0.3061 10
2020s 0.345 0.345 0.345 1

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 53 Canada 0.3668 compare
  2. 54 Belarus 0.3667 compare
  3. 55 Sweden 0.3484 compare
  4. 57 Russia 0.3316 compare
  5. 58 Moldova 0.31 compare
  6. 59 Netherlands 0.2862 compare

See the full ranking of 65 places →

More public sector data for United States

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in United States?
Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in United States was 0.345 in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 0.3926 in 1990.
What is the lowest expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2637 in 2002.
How does United States rank for expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general)?
United States ranks 56th out of 65 countries with data for 2020.
Is expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) rising or falling in United States?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United States data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general government spending), Percent (Central government). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in United States. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/expenditure-decentralization-ratio-of-own-spending-to-general-government-spending-percent/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general government spending), Percent (Central government)
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
65 places, 1,118 data points, 1990–2020
Last refreshed

The Fiscal Decentralization dataset includes fiscal decentralization indicators for a sample of IMF member countries. The following indicators are included in the dataset: Revenue and Expenditure Decentralization Shares; Transfer dependency and Vertical Fiscal Imbalances; Deficit and Debt; Allocation of expenditure (economic classification); Allocation of expenditure (functional classification); Allocation of non-Tax Revenues; and Allocation of Taxes.