Social contributions in United States
United States: Social contributions was 1.90 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Social contributions 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 social contributions in United States is 1.90 trillion current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.6% on the previous year and up 66.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social contributions in United States peaked at 1.90 trillion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 50.48 billion current LCU, in 1972.
That places United States 15th out of 112 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Social contributions in United States, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 50.48 billion current LCU | — |
| 1973 | 60.93 billion current LCU | +20.7% |
| 1974 | 72.73 billion current LCU | +19.4% |
| 1975 | 81.97 billion current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1976 | 87.95 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 1977 | 103.51 billion current LCU | +17.7% |
| 1978 | 117.73 billion current LCU | +13.7% |
| 1979 | 135.44 billion current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1980 | 154.07 billion current LCU | +13.8% |
| 1981 | 179.11 billion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1982 | 196.91 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 1983 | 204.57 billion current LCU | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 234.79 billion current LCU | +14.8% |
| 1985 | 260.42 billion current LCU | +10.9% |
| 1986 | 279.15 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 298.59 billion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 329.52 billion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 1989 | 354.86 billion current LCU | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 383.59 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1991 | 400.46 billion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 418.45 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 433.08 billion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 466.58 billion current LCU | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 489.91 billion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 515.12 billion current LCU | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 545.29 billion current LCU | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 577.94 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 1999 | 617.82 billion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 659.30 billion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 723.26 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 739.42 billion current LCU | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 763.28 billion current LCU | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 808.98 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 853.40 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 905.68 billion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 947.30 billion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 974.50 billion current LCU | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 950.66 billion current LCU | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 970.90 billion current LCU | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 903.21 billion current LCU | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 937.96 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 1.09 trillion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 2014 | 1.14 trillion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 1.19 trillion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 1.22 trillion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 1.28 trillion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 1.35 trillion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 1.41 trillion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 1.43 trillion current LCU | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 1.54 trillion current LCU | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 1.69 trillion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2023 | 1.79 trillion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 1.90 trillion current LCU | +6.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 1.90 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 35.12 billion current LCU, 54.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 88.84 billion current LCU | 50.48 billion current LCU | 135.44 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | 249.20 billion current LCU | 154.07 billion current LCU | 354.86 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 484.82 billion current LCU | 383.59 billion current LCU | 617.82 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 832.58 billion current LCU | 659.30 billion current LCU | 974.50 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 trillion current LCU | 903.21 billion current LCU | 1.41 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.67 trillion current LCU | 1.43 trillion current LCU | 1.90 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More public sector data for United States
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- 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 social contributions in United States?
- Social contributions in United States was 1.90 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest social contributions recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.90 trillion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest social contributions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.48 billion current LCU in 1972.
- How does United States rank for social contributions?
- United States ranks 15th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is social contributions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.9%. 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 Social contributions (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Social contributions are actual or imputed contributions payable to social insurance schemes to make provisions for social benefits to be paid. 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.