Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United States
United States: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -2.11 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United States, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United States is -2.11 trillion current LCU, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 223.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United States peaked at 228.97 billion current LCU in 2000 and was at its lowest, -3.07 trillion current LCU, in 2020.
That places United States 140th out of 156 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United States, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | -17.29 billion current LCU | — |
| 1973 | -14.40 billion current LCU | -16.7% |
| 1974 | -1.56 billion current LCU | -89.2% |
| 1975 | -40.42 billion current LCU | +2491.0% |
| 1976 | -63.78 billion current LCU | +57.8% |
| 1977 | -42.76 billion current LCU | -33.0% |
| 1978 | -41.00 billion current LCU | -4.1% |
| 1979 | -17.50 billion current LCU | -57.3% |
| 1980 | -50.56 billion current LCU | +188.9% |
| 1981 | -47.75 billion current LCU | -5.6% |
| 1982 | -104.97 billion current LCU | +119.8% |
| 1983 | -189.16 billion current LCU | +80.2% |
| 1984 | -163.39 billion current LCU | -13.6% |
| 1985 | -185.61 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 1986 | -209.33 billion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1987 | -144.14 billion current LCU | -31.1% |
| 1988 | -156.12 billion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 1989 | -147.90 billion current LCU | -5.3% |
| 1990 | -218.64 billion current LCU | +47.8% |
| 1991 | -269.13 billion current LCU | +23.1% |
| 1992 | -288.43 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 1993 | -253.53 billion current LCU | -12.1% |
| 1994 | -203.39 billion current LCU | -19.8% |
| 1995 | -151.17 billion current LCU | -25.7% |
| 1996 | -111.48 billion current LCU | -26.3% |
| 1997 | -19.82 billion current LCU | -82.2% |
| 1998 | 72.56 billion current LCU | -466.1% |
| 1999 | 123.93 billion current LCU | +70.8% |
| 2000 | 228.97 billion current LCU | +84.8% |
| 2001 | 1.48 billion current LCU | -99.4% |
| 2002 | -310.93 billion current LCU | -21116.2% |
| 2003 | -467.24 billion current LCU | +50.3% |
| 2004 | -467.53 billion current LCU | +0.1% |
| 2005 | -395.95 billion current LCU | -15.3% |
| 2006 | -290.92 billion current LCU | -26.5% |
| 2007 | -352.99 billion current LCU | +21.3% |
| 2008 | -774.16 billion current LCU | +119.3% |
| 2009 | -1.48 trillion current LCU | +90.6% |
| 2010 | -1.50 trillion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2011 | -1.40 trillion current LCU | -7.2% |
| 2012 | -1.19 trillion current LCU | -14.9% |
| 2013 | -700.61 billion current LCU | -41.0% |
| 2014 | -651.80 billion current LCU | -7.0% |
| 2015 | -585.08 billion current LCU | -10.2% |
| 2016 | -720.27 billion current LCU | +23.1% |
| 2017 | -577.42 billion current LCU | -19.8% |
| 2018 | -987.17 billion current LCU | +71.0% |
| 2019 | -1.15 trillion current LCU | +16.9% |
| 2020 | -3.07 trillion current LCU | +166.4% |
| 2021 | -3.01 trillion current LCU | -2.0% |
| 2022 | -1.16 trillion current LCU | -61.5% |
| 2023 | -2.02 trillion current LCU | +73.8% |
| 2024 | -2.11 trillion current LCU | +4.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's -2.11 trillion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is -2.76 billion current LCU, 764.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | -21116.2% | 1.48 billion current LCU | -310.93 billion current LCU |
| 1975 | -2491.0% | -1.56 billion current LCU | -40.42 billion current LCU |
| 1998 | +466.1% | -19.82 billion current LCU | 72.56 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -29.84 billion current LCU | -63.78 billion current LCU | -1.56 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | -139.89 billion current LCU | -209.33 billion current LCU | -47.75 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -131.91 billion current LCU | -288.43 billion current LCU | 123.93 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -430.46 billion current LCU | -1.48 trillion current LCU | 228.97 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -946.34 billion current LCU | -1.50 trillion current LCU | -577.42 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.27 trillion current LCU | -3.07 trillion current LCU | -1.16 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 137 Philippines -1.50 trillion current LCU compare
- 138 Madagascar -1.52 trillion current LCU compare
- 139 Mexico -1.99 trillion current LCU compare
- 141 Malawi -2.32 trillion current LCU compare
- 142 Sri Lanka -2.54 trillion current LCU compare
- 143 Cote d'Ivoire -2.65 trillion current LCU compare
More public sector data for United States
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United States?
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United States was -2.11 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 228.97 billion current LCU in 2000.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.07 trillion current LCU in 2020.
- How does United States rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- United States ranks 140th out of 156 countries with data for 2024.
- Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 223.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.