Government budget and revenue in Rhode Island, United States: official figures
Rhode Island's state government took in $12.4 billion in fiscal year 2024, $11,182 per resident, 12th 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 Rhode Island state government spend?
The Rhode Island state government spent $12.3 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $11,099 per resident, 12th highest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 25.3% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($9.8 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the Rhode Island state government have?
Rhode Island state government debt outstanding was $11.4 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $10,277 per resident, the highest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 92% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $9.3 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does Rhode Island get?
The federal government provided $4.6 billion to the Rhode Island state government in fiscal year 2024, $4,105 per resident and 36.8% of its general revenue, 21st highest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to Rhode Island spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $2.4 billion or 52% of Rhode Island's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $275.2 million (6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the Rhode Island state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $4,101 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 8th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $771 per resident and highways $600.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Rhode Island give to local governments and schools?
15.5% of Rhode Island's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($1.9 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 3rd lowest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Rhode Island collect?
Rhode Island collected $5.5 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $4,909 per resident, 15th highest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 3.5% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($5.3 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Rhode Island rely on?
The individual income tax raised $1.8 billion (33.4% of state taxes, 24th highest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $1.7 billion (30.6%, 25th lowest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the individual income tax (33.4%), followed by the general sales and gross receipts tax (30.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Rhode Island have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in Rhode Island, corporate net income tax raised $531.2 million (9.7% of state taxes); state property tax raised $5.1 million; no severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals was collected.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the Rhode Island state government hold in reserves?
The Rhode Island state government held $12.6 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $11,342 per resident, of which $11.5 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Rhode Island compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | California | $12,139 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $11,577 |
| 11 | Oregon | $11,361 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $11,182 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $10,873 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $10,689 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $10,593 |
State government spending per person (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 12 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | North Dakota | $12,154 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $12,056 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $11,158 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $11,099 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $10,880 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $10,565 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $10,405 |
State government debt per person (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $10,277 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $9,227 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $9,053 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $8,533 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $8,166 |
| 6 | Alaska | $7,768 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $6,163 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 10 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Vermont | $4,667 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $4,251 |
| 9 | Oregon | $4,117 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $4,105 |
| 11 | Montana | $4,095 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $3,862 |
| 13 | Delaware | $3,757 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 21 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Arkansas | 38.0% |
| 19 | Alabama | 37.8% |
| 20 | Oregon | 36.9% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 36.8% |
| 22 | Michigan | 36.3% |
| 23 | North Carolina | 36.1% |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | 36.0% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
Rhode Island ranks 15 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Illinois | $5,606 |
| 13 | Maryland | $5,255 |
| 14 | Washington | $4,920 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $4,909 |
| 16 | Maine | $4,889 |
| 17 | Oregon | $4,802 |
| 18 | Virginia | $4,533 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Rhode Island ranks 24 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Maryland | 35.6% |
| 22 | South Carolina | 35.1% |
| 23 | Idaho | 34.9% |
| 24 | Rhode Island | 33.4% |
| 25 | Alabama | 32.8% |
| 26 | Indiana | 31.7% |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | 31.6% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Rhode Island ranks 26 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Michigan | 32.3% |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 31.0% |
| 25 | North Carolina | 30.9% |
| 26 | Rhode Island | 30.6% |
| 27 | New Mexico | 30.3% |
| 28 | Missouri | 29.7% |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | 28.5% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 8 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Kentucky | $4,481 |
| 6 | Alaska | $4,438 |
| 7 | Vermont | $4,164 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $4,101 |
| 9 | Louisiana | $4,053 |
| 10 | Maine | $4,045 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $4,035 |
More on Rhode Island: 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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