Government budget and revenue in Delaware, United States: official figures
Delaware's state government took in $13.6 billion in fiscal year 2024, $12,996 per resident, 8th highest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the Delaware state government spend?
The Delaware state government spent $13.8 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $13,137 per resident, 6th highest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 32.0% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($10.5 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the Delaware state government have?
Delaware state government debt outstanding was $3.7 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $3,510 per resident, 22nd highest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 27% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $5.0 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does Delaware get?
The federal government provided $3.9 billion to the Delaware state government in fiscal year 2024, $3,757 per resident and 28.9% of its general revenue, 8th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to Delaware spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $2.5 billion or 62% of Delaware's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $406.6 million (10%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the Delaware state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $3,785 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 13th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,769 per resident and highways $760.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Delaware give to local governments and schools?
18.8% of Delaware's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($2.6 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 10th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Delaware collect?
Delaware collected $6.9 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $6,557 per resident, 8th highest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 6.4% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($6.5 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Delaware rely on?
The individual income tax raised $2.8 billion (39.6% of state taxes, 14th highest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. There were no general sales tax collections. The largest single tax was the individual income tax (39.6%), followed by the corporation licence tax (34.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Delaware have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in Delaware, corporate net income tax raised $577.3 million (8.3% of state taxes); no state property tax was collected; no severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals was collected.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the Delaware state government hold in reserves?
The Delaware state government held $14.2 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $13,487 per resident, of which $13.5 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Delaware compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
Delaware ranks 8 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Vermont | $13,987 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $13,416 |
| 7 | New York | $13,131 |
| 8 | Delaware | $12,996 |
| 9 | California | $12,139 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $11,577 |
| 11 | Oregon | $11,361 |
State government spending per person (2024)
Delaware ranks 6 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Vermont | $14,785 |
| 4 | New York | $13,329 |
| 5 | California | $13,228 |
| 6 | Delaware | $13,137 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $12,865 |
| 8 | Oregon | $12,574 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $12,154 |
State government debt per person (2024)
Delaware ranks 22 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Virginia | $3,825 |
| 20 | Maine | $3,765 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $3,730 |
| 22 | Delaware | $3,510 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $3,487 |
| 24 | Illinois | $3,415 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $3,347 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
Delaware ranks 13 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Rhode Island | $4,105 |
| 11 | Montana | $4,095 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $3,862 |
| 13 | Delaware | $3,757 |
| 14 | Arizona | $3,646 |
| 15 | Maine | $3,627 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $3,555 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
Delaware ranks 43 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Massachusetts | 29.8% |
| 41 | New Jersey | 29.8% |
| 42 | Connecticut | 29.6% |
| 43 | Delaware | 28.9% |
| 44 | Idaho | 28.8% |
| 45 | California | 28.0% |
| 46 | Utah | 26.7% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
Delaware ranks 8 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | North Dakota | $6,902 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $6,711 |
| 7 | New York | $6,563 |
| 8 | Delaware | $6,557 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $6,454 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $6,327 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $5,662 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Delaware ranks 14 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Utah | 42.8% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 42.1% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 40.4% |
| 14 | Delaware | 39.6% |
| 15 | Maine | 39.5% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 38.9% |
| 17 | Minnesota | 37.8% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Delaware ranks 49 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | New York | 15.5% |
| 45 | Vermont | 11.9% |
| 46 | Oregon | 6.9% |
| 47 | New Hampshire | 0.0% |
| 48 | Montana | 0.0% |
| 49 | Delaware | 0.0% |
| 50 | Alaska | 0.0% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
Delaware ranks 13 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Maine | $4,045 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $4,035 |
| 12 | California | $3,981 |
| 13 | Delaware | $3,785 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $3,557 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $3,534 |
| 16 | Maryland | $3,463 |
More on Delaware: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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