Introduction
Donor states are the states that pay more money to the federal government in taxes by residents than what they receive for funding; this amount is called the balance of payments. In other words, donor states are states where the balance of payments is negative. The higher the negative number, the more the state paid compared to what it received.
States can attain donor status by either shrinking the portion of their budget that depends on federal aid or increasing the state’s economic output. Because of this dichotomy, states, where larger portions of their budget rely on federal aid, are less likely to be donor states. For this reason, states are best equipped to change their donor status by relying more heavily on federal funds for their programs rather than money raised through direct taxation.
Learn for yourself how states differ in the balance of payments and which are considered donor states by checking the data in the charts.
| # | State | Balance of Payments | Federal Aid Per Capita | State Government Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 263 billion | $14,381 | 144 billion |
| 2 | Texas | 191 billion | $10,443 | 58 billion |
| 3 | Florida | 177 billion | $12,057 | 25 billion |
| 4 | Virginia | 168 billion | $12,419 | 29 billion |
| 5 | New York | 136 billion | $14,842 | 156 billion |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 132 billion | $10,988 | 52 billion |
| 7 | Ohio | 116 billion | $9,154 | 30 billion |
| 8 | Michigan | 101 billion | $9,580 | 34 billion |
| 9 | North Carolina | 96 billion | $9,361 | 15 billion |
| 10 | Maryland | 92 billion | $13,352 | 29 billion |
| 11 | Georgia | 88 billion | $9,449 | 14 billion |
| 12 | Arizona | 87 billion | $9,638 | 13 billion |
| 13 | Illinois | 85 billion | $11,968 | 65 billion |
| 14 | Kentucky | 83 billion | $7,777 | 15 billion |
| 15 | Tennessee | 68 billion | $9,389 | 7 billion |
| 16 | Missouri | 63 billion | $9,197 | 19 billion |
| 17 | Alabama | 63 billion | $7,716 | 10 billion |
| 18 | Indiana | 58 billion | $8,827 | 24 billion |
| 19 | South Carolina | 57 billion | $8,568 | 13 billion |
| 20 | Louisiana | 55 billion | $7,510 | 17 billion |
| 21 | Massachusetts | 54 billion | $16,945 | 77 billion |
| 22 | New Jersey | 44 billion | $15,012 | 64 billion |
| 23 | Oklahoma | 43 billion | $7,887 | 8 billion |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 41 billion | $10,204 | 22 billion |
| 25 | Washington | 41 billion | $14,773 | 30 billion |
| 26 | Mississippi | 38 billion | $6,552 | 7 billion |
| 27 | Oregon | 37 billion | $10,556 | 15 billion |
| 28 | Minnesota | 35 billion | $12,043 | 17 billion |
| 29 | Colorado | 34 billion | $13,021 | 20 billion |
| 30 | Arkansas | 33 billion | $7,692 | 8 billion |
| 31 | New Mexico | 31 billion | $7,354 | 7 billion |
| 32 | Nevada | 27 billion | $11,039 | 4 billion |
| 33 | West Virginia | 25 billion | $6,819 | 12 billion |
| 34 | Iowa | 25 billion | $9,406 | 6 billion |
| 35 | Kansas | 25 billion | $10,059 | 7 billion |
| 36 | Hawaii | 19 billion | $9,838 | 9 billion |
| 37 | Maine | 18 billion | $9,314 | 5 billion |
| 38 | Idaho | 17 billion | $9,074 | 3 billion |
| 39 | Utah | 16 billion | $10,080 | 8 billion |
| 40 | Connecticut | 15 billion | $17,193 | 41 billion |
| 41 | Nebraska | 14 billion | $10,579 | 3 billion |
| 42 | Alaska | 13 billion | $10,586 | 6 billion |
| 43 | Montana | 13 billion | $9,747 | 3 billion |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 12 billion | $11,060 | 9 billion |
| 45 | Delaware | 12 billion | $10,949 | 5 billion |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 10 billion | $14,113 | 8 billion |
| 47 | South Dakota | 9 billion | $10,923 | 4 billion |
| 48 | Vermont | 9 billion | $10,191 | 4 billion |
| 49 | North Dakota | 8 billion | $11,041 | 3 billion |
| 50 | Wyoming | 6 billion | $14,260 | 949 million |
Balance of Payments by State
Alabama
Balance of Payments
63 billion
Ranked in the US
#17
$7,716
↑ 15.04%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#45
State Government Debt
10 billion
Ranked in the US
#28
Alaska
Balance of Payments
13 billion
Ranked in the US
#42
$10,586
↑ 12.39%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#21
State Government Debt
6 billion
Ranked in the US
#40
Arizona
Balance of Payments
87 billion
Ranked in the US
#12
$9,638
↑ 20.26%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#31
State Government Debt
13 billion
Ranked in the US
#25
Arkansas
Balance of Payments
33 billion
Ranked in the US
#30
$7,692
↑ 18.78%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#46
State Government Debt
8 billion
Ranked in the US
#33
California
Balance of Payments
263 billion
Ranked in the US
#1
$14,381
↑ 22.61%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#6
State Government Debt
144 billion
Ranked in the US
#2
Colorado
Balance of Payments
34 billion
Ranked in the US
#29
$13,021
↑ 19.36%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#10
State Government Debt
20 billion
Ranked in the US
#17
Connecticut
Balance of Payments
15 billion
Ranked in the US
#40
$17,193
↑ 19%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#1
State Government Debt
41 billion
Ranked in the US
#8
Delaware
Balance of Payments
12 billion
Ranked in the US
#45
$10,949
↑ 19.61%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#19
State Government Debt
5 billion
Ranked in the US
#42
Florida
Balance of Payments
177 billion
Ranked in the US
#3
$12,057
↑ 25.9%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#12
State Government Debt
25 billion
Ranked in the US
#14
Georgia
Balance of Payments
88 billion
Ranked in the US
#11
$9,449
↑ 17.95%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#33
State Government Debt
14 billion
Ranked in the US
#24
Hawaii
Balance of Payments
19 billion
Ranked in the US
#36
$9,838
↑ 12.1%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#29
State Government Debt
9 billion
Ranked in the US
#29
Idaho
Balance of Payments
17 billion
Ranked in the US
#38
$9,074
↑ 21.55%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#40
State Government Debt
3 billion
Ranked in the US
#46
Illinois
Balance of Payments
85 billion
Ranked in the US
#13
$11,968
↑ 16.97%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#14
State Government Debt
65 billion
Ranked in the US
#4
Indiana
Balance of Payments
58 billion
Ranked in the US
#18
$8,827
↑ 15.11%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#41
State Government Debt
24 billion
Ranked in the US
#15
Iowa
Balance of Payments
25 billion
Ranked in the US
#34
$9,406
↑ 16.28%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#34
State Government Debt
6 billion
Ranked in the US
#39
Kansas
Balance of Payments
25 billion
Ranked in the US
#35
$10,059
↑ 17.43%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#28
State Government Debt
7 billion
Ranked in the US
#37
Kentucky
Balance of Payments
83 billion
Ranked in the US
#14
$7,777
↑ 17.39%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#44
State Government Debt
15 billion
Ranked in the US
#22
Louisiana
Balance of Payments
55 billion
Ranked in the US
#20
$7,510
↑ 7.9%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#47
State Government Debt
17 billion
Ranked in the US
#20
Maine
Balance of Payments
18 billion
Ranked in the US
#37
$9,314
↑ 20.93%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#37
State Government Debt
5 billion
Ranked in the US
#41
Maryland
Balance of Payments
92 billion
Ranked in the US
#10
$13,352
↑ 17.52%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#9
State Government Debt
29 billion
Ranked in the US
#12
Massachusetts
Balance of Payments
54 billion
Ranked in the US
#21
$16,945
↑ 21.01%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#2
State Government Debt
77 billion
Ranked in the US
#3
Michigan
Balance of Payments
101 billion
Ranked in the US
#8
$9,580
↑ 15.28%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#32
State Government Debt
34 billion
Ranked in the US
#9
Minnesota
Balance of Payments
35 billion
Ranked in the US
#28
$12,043
↑ 15.27%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#13
State Government Debt
17 billion
Ranked in the US
#19
Mississippi
Balance of Payments
38 billion
Ranked in the US
#26
$6,552
↑ 14.29%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#50
State Government Debt
7 billion
Ranked in the US
#35
Missouri
Balance of Payments
63 billion
Ranked in the US
#16
$9,197
↑ 17.08%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#38
State Government Debt
19 billion
Ranked in the US
#18
Montana
Balance of Payments
13 billion
Ranked in the US
#43
$9,747
↑ 20.99%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#30
State Government Debt
3 billion
Ranked in the US
#48
Nebraska
Balance of Payments
14 billion
Ranked in the US
#41
$10,579
↑ 18.17%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#22
State Government Debt
3 billion
Ranked in the US
#49
Nevada
Balance of Payments
27 billion
Ranked in the US
#32
$11,039
↑ 23.48%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#17
State Government Debt
4 billion
Ranked in the US
#44
New Hampshire
Balance of Payments
10 billion
Ranked in the US
#46
$14,113
↑ 21.49%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#8
State Government Debt
8 billion
Ranked in the US
#34
New Jersey
Balance of Payments
44 billion
Ranked in the US
#22
$15,012
↑ 16.28%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#3
State Government Debt
64 billion
Ranked in the US
#5
New Mexico
Balance of Payments
31 billion
Ranked in the US
#31
$7,354
↑ 11.93%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#48
State Government Debt
7 billion
Ranked in the US
#36
New York
Balance of Payments
136 billion
Ranked in the US
#5
$14,842
↑ 18.03%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#4
State Government Debt
156 billion
Ranked in the US
#1
North Carolina
Balance of Payments
96 billion
Ranked in the US
#9
$9,361
↑ 17.93%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#36
State Government Debt
15 billion
Ranked in the US
#21
North Dakota
Balance of Payments
8 billion
Ranked in the US
#49
$11,041
↑ 6.23%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#16
State Government Debt
3 billion
Ranked in the US
#47
Ohio
Balance of Payments
116 billion
Ranked in the US
#7
$9,154
↑ 16.57%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#39
State Government Debt
30 billion
Ranked in the US
#10
Oklahoma
Balance of Payments
43 billion
Ranked in the US
#23
$7,887
↑ 13.21%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#43
State Government Debt
8 billion
Ranked in the US
#31
Oregon
Balance of Payments
37 billion
Ranked in the US
#27
$10,556
↑ 16.37%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#23
State Government Debt
15 billion
Ranked in the US
#23
Pennsylvania
Balance of Payments
132 billion
Ranked in the US
#6
$10,988
↑ 14.49%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#18
State Government Debt
52 billion
Ranked in the US
#7
Rhode Island
Balance of Payments
12 billion
Ranked in the US
#44
$11,060
↑ 16.2%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#15
State Government Debt
9 billion
Ranked in the US
#30
South Carolina
Balance of Payments
57 billion
Ranked in the US
#19
$8,568
↑ 15.71%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#42
State Government Debt
13 billion
Ranked in the US
#26
South Dakota
Balance of Payments
9 billion
Ranked in the US
#47
$10,923
↑ 22.44%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#20
State Government Debt
4 billion
Ranked in the US
#43
Tennessee
Balance of Payments
68 billion
Ranked in the US
#15
$9,389
↑ 19.24%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#35
State Government Debt
7 billion
Ranked in the US
#38
Texas
Balance of Payments
191 billion
Ranked in the US
#2
$10,443
↑ 14.88%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#24
State Government Debt
58 billion
Ranked in the US
#6
Utah
Balance of Payments
16 billion
Ranked in the US
#39
$10,080
↑ 24.23%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#27
State Government Debt
8 billion
Ranked in the US
#32
Vermont
Balance of Payments
9 billion
Ranked in the US
#48
$10,191
↑ 13.69%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#26
State Government Debt
4 billion
Ranked in the US
#45
Virginia
Balance of Payments
168 billion
Ranked in the US
#4
$12,419
↑ 16.74%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#11
State Government Debt
29 billion
Ranked in the US
#13
Washington
Balance of Payments
41 billion
Ranked in the US
#25
$14,773
↑ 21.58%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#5
State Government Debt
30 billion
Ranked in the US
#11
West Virginia
Balance of Payments
25 billion
Ranked in the US
#33
$6,819
↑ 11.49%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#49
State Government Debt
12 billion
Ranked in the US
#27
Wisconsin
Balance of Payments
41 billion
Ranked in the US
#24
$10,204
↑ 13.71%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#25
State Government Debt
22 billion
Ranked in the US
#16
Wyoming
Balance of Payments
6 billion
Ranked in the US
#50
$14,260
↑ 26.18%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#7
State Government Debt
949 million
Ranked in the US
#50
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