Government budget and revenue in West Virginia, United States: official figures
West Virginia's state government took in $18.6 billion in fiscal year 2024, $10,535 per resident, 17th 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 West Virginia state government spend?
The West Virginia state government spent $19.2 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $10,880 per resident, 13th highest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 26.0% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($15.3 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the West Virginia state government have?
West Virginia state government debt outstanding was $15.1 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $8,533 per resident, 4th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 82% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $10.6 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does West Virginia get?
The federal government provided $7.5 billion to the West Virginia state government in fiscal year 2024, $4,251 per resident and 40.6% of its general revenue, 11th highest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to West Virginia spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $4.7 billion or 63% of West Virginia's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $1.2 billion (16%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the West Virginia state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $3,534 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 15th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,048 per resident and highways $1,213.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does West Virginia give to local governments and schools?
19.3% of West Virginia's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($3.7 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 12th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does West Virginia collect?
West Virginia collected $7.0 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $3,936 per resident, 22nd lowest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 0.7% less than in fiscal year 2024 ($7.0 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does West Virginia rely on?
The individual income tax raised $2.2 billion (31.0% of state taxes, 22nd lowest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $1.9 billion (27.1%, 18th lowest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the individual income tax (31.0%), followed by the general sales and gross receipts tax (27.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes West Virginia have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in West Virginia, corporate net income tax raised $376.2 million (5.4% of state taxes); state property tax raised $10.3 million; severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals raised $498.6 million (7.2% of state taxes).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the West Virginia state government hold in reserves?
The West Virginia state government held $23.2 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $13,131 per resident, of which $22.3 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow West Virginia compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
West Virginia ranks 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Connecticut | $10,689 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $10,593 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $10,585 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $10,535 |
| 18 | Iowa | $10,005 |
| 19 | Maine | $9,734 |
| 20 | Kansas | $9,693 |
State government spending per person (2024)
West Virginia ranks 13 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $10,223 |
State government debt per person (2024)
West Virginia ranks 4 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)
West Virginia ranks 8 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Louisiana | $4,848 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $4,685 |
| 7 | Vermont | $4,667 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $4,251 |
| 9 | Oregon | $4,117 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $4,105 |
| 11 | Montana | $4,095 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
West Virginia ranks 11 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | South Dakota | 41.6% |
| 9 | Indiana | 41.0% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 40.9% |
| 11 | West Virginia | 40.6% |
| 12 | Tennessee | 40.5% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 40.1% |
| 14 | New York | 39.5% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
West Virginia ranks 29 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Arkansas | $4,032 |
| 27 | Michigan | $4,029 |
| 28 | Utah | $3,994 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $3,936 |
| 30 | Indiana | $3,932 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $3,763 |
| 32 | Iowa | $3,743 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
West Virginia ranks 29 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Indiana | 31.7% |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | 31.6% |
| 28 | Iowa | 31.4% |
| 29 | West Virginia | 31.0% |
| 30 | Michigan | 30.7% |
| 31 | Nebraska | 29.9% |
| 32 | Hawaii | 29.8% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
West Virginia ranks 33 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | New Jersey | 27.4% |
| 31 | Alabama | 27.2% |
| 32 | Georgia | 27.2% |
| 33 | West Virginia | 27.1% |
| 34 | Oklahoma | 26.9% |
| 35 | Connecticut | 25.3% |
| 36 | North Dakota | 25.0% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
West Virginia ranks 15 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | California | $3,981 |
| 13 | Delaware | $3,785 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $3,557 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $3,534 |
| 16 | Maryland | $3,463 |
| 17 | Arizona | $3,444 |
| 18 | Ohio | $3,354 |
More on West Virginia: 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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