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 | $262,786,000,000 | $11,729 | $144,041,214,000 |
| 2 | Texas | $191,290,000,000 | $9,090 | $57,886,725,000 |
| 3 | Florida | $176,646,000,000 | $9,577 | $25,012,950,000 |
| 4 | Virginia | $167,503,000,000 | $10,638 | $29,340,896,000 |
| 5 | New York | $136,240,000,000 | $12,575 | $156,004,196,000 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $132,380,000,000 | $9,597 | $51,734,691,000 |
| 7 | Ohio | $115,881,000,000 | $7,853 | $30,412,376,000 |
| 8 | Michigan | $101,310,000,000 | $8,310 | $34,402,762,000 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $95,625,000,000 | $7,938 | $15,098,522,000 |
| 10 | Maryland | $91,613,000,000 | $11,361 | $29,359,300,000 |
| 11 | Georgia | $88,376,000,000 | $8,011 | $14,115,682,000 |
| 12 | Arizona | $87,334,000,000 | $8,014 | $12,946,749,000 |
| 13 | Illinois | $84,609,000,000 | $10,232 | $64,854,111,000 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $82,940,000,000 | $6,625 | $14,634,789,000 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $68,183,000,000 | $7,874 | $6,858,341,000 |
| 16 | Missouri | $62,645,000,000 | $7,855 | $18,969,986,000 |
| 17 | Alabama | $62,543,000,000 | $6,707 | $9,934,370,000 |
| 18 | Indiana | $57,546,000,000 | $7,668 | $23,841,296,000 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $56,886,000,000 | $7,405 | $12,896,315,000 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $54,712,000,000 | $6,960 | $16,858,298,000 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $53,789,000,000 | $14,003 | $77,321,138,000 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $44,274,000,000 | $12,910 | $64,058,342,000 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $43,129,000,000 | $6,967 | $7,804,816,000 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $41,191,000,000 | $8,974 | $22,446,313,000 |
| 25 | Washington | $40,726,000,000 | $12,151 | $29,658,660,000 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $37,713,000,000 | $5,733 | $7,288,707,000 |
| 27 | Oregon | $37,009,000,000 | $9,071 | $14,600,436,000 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $35,107,000,000 | $10,448 | $17,400,637,000 |
| 29 | Colorado | $33,735,000,000 | $10,909 | $20,127,071,000 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $32,650,000,000 | $6,476 | $7,565,411,000 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $31,350,000,000 | $6,570 | $7,267,902,000 |
| 32 | Nevada | $26,996,000,000 | $8,940 | $3,652,724,000 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $25,335,000,000 | $6,116 | $11,625,729,000 |
| 34 | Iowa | $25,155,000,000 | $8,089 | $6,250,299,000 |
| 35 | Kansas | $24,652,000,000 | $8,566 | $6,928,288,000 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $19,224,000,000 | $8,776 | $9,430,284,000 |
| 37 | Maine | $18,241,000,000 | $7,702 | $5,151,077,000 |
| 38 | Idaho | $16,700,000,000 | $7,465 | $3,348,042,000 |
| 39 | Utah | $16,321,000,000 | $8,114 | $7,593,692,000 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $14,973,000,000 | $14,448 | $41,363,053,000 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $13,776,000,000 | $8,952 | $2,585,834,000 |
| 42 | Alaska | $13,238,000,000 | $9,419 | $5,849,366,000 |
| 43 | Montana | $12,702,000,000 | $8,056 | $2,725,873,000 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | $12,336,000,000 | $9,518 | $9,371,823,000 |
| 45 | Delaware | $11,672,000,000 | $9,154 | $5,068,699,000 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $10,107,000,000 | $11,617 | $7,543,417,000 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $8,952,000,000 | $8,921 | $3,855,938,000 |
| 48 | Vermont | $8,919,000,000 | $8,964 | $3,563,173,000 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $7,655,000,000 | $10,393 | $3,017,509,000 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $5,938,000,000 | $11,301 | $949,280,000 |
Balance of Payments by State
Alabama
Balance of Payments
$62,543,000,000
Ranked in the US
#17
$6,707
Ranked in the US
#45
State Government Debt
$9,934,370,000
Ranked in the US
#28
Alaska
Balance of Payments
$13,238,000,000
Ranked in the US
#42
$9,419
Ranked in the US
#18
State Government Debt
$5,849,366,000
Ranked in the US
#40
Arizona
Balance of Payments
$87,334,000,000
Ranked in the US
#12
$8,014
Ranked in the US
#33
State Government Debt
$12,946,749,000
Ranked in the US
#25
Arkansas
Balance of Payments
$32,650,000,000
Ranked in the US
#30
$6,476
Ranked in the US
#48
State Government Debt
$7,565,411,000
Ranked in the US
#33
California
Balance of Payments
$262,786,000,000
Ranked in the US
#1
$11,729
Ranked in the US
#6
State Government Debt
$144,041,214,000
Ranked in the US
#2
Colorado
Balance of Payments
$33,735,000,000
Ranked in the US
#29
$10,909
Ranked in the US
#10
State Government Debt
$20,127,071,000
Ranked in the US
#17
Connecticut
Balance of Payments
$14,973,000,000
Ranked in the US
#40
$14,448
Ranked in the US
#1
State Government Debt
$41,363,053,000
Ranked in the US
#8
Delaware
Balance of Payments
$11,672,000,000
Ranked in the US
#45
$9,154
Ranked in the US
#19
State Government Debt
$5,068,699,000
Ranked in the US
#42
Florida
Balance of Payments
$176,646,000,000
Ranked in the US
#3
$9,577
Ranked in the US
#16
State Government Debt
$25,012,950,000
Ranked in the US
#14
Georgia
Balance of Payments
$88,376,000,000
Ranked in the US
#11
$8,011
Ranked in the US
#34
State Government Debt
$14,115,682,000
Ranked in the US
#24
Hawaii
Balance of Payments
$19,224,000,000
Ranked in the US
#36
$8,776
Ranked in the US
#27
State Government Debt
$9,430,284,000
Ranked in the US
#29
Idaho
Balance of Payments
$16,700,000,000
Ranked in the US
#38
$7,465
Ranked in the US
#41
State Government Debt
$3,348,042,000
Ranked in the US
#46
Illinois
Balance of Payments
$84,609,000,000
Ranked in the US
#13
$10,232
Ranked in the US
#14
State Government Debt
$64,854,111,000
Ranked in the US
#4
Indiana
Balance of Payments
$57,546,000,000
Ranked in the US
#18
$7,668
Ranked in the US
#40
State Government Debt
$23,841,296,000
Ranked in the US
#15
Iowa
Balance of Payments
$25,155,000,000
Ranked in the US
#34
$8,089
Ranked in the US
#31
State Government Debt
$6,250,299,000
Ranked in the US
#39
Kansas
Balance of Payments
$24,652,000,000
Ranked in the US
#35
$8,566
Ranked in the US
#28
State Government Debt
$6,928,288,000
Ranked in the US
#37
Kentucky
Balance of Payments
$82,940,000,000
Ranked in the US
#14
$6,625
Ranked in the US
#46
State Government Debt
$14,634,789,000
Ranked in the US
#22
Louisiana
Balance of Payments
$54,712,000,000
Ranked in the US
#20
$6,960
Ranked in the US
#44
State Government Debt
$16,858,298,000
Ranked in the US
#20
Maine
Balance of Payments
$18,241,000,000
Ranked in the US
#37
$7,702
Ranked in the US
#39
State Government Debt
$5,151,077,000
Ranked in the US
#41
Maryland
Balance of Payments
$91,613,000,000
Ranked in the US
#10
$11,361
Ranked in the US
#8
State Government Debt
$29,359,300,000
Ranked in the US
#12
Massachusetts
Balance of Payments
$53,789,000,000
Ranked in the US
#21
$14,003
Ranked in the US
#2
State Government Debt
$77,321,138,000
Ranked in the US
#3
Michigan
Balance of Payments
$101,310,000,000
Ranked in the US
#8
$8,310
Ranked in the US
#29
State Government Debt
$34,402,762,000
Ranked in the US
#9
Minnesota
Balance of Payments
$35,107,000,000
Ranked in the US
#28
$10,448
Ranked in the US
#12
State Government Debt
$17,400,637,000
Ranked in the US
#19
Mississippi
Balance of Payments
$37,713,000,000
Ranked in the US
#26
$5,733
Ranked in the US
#50
State Government Debt
$7,288,707,000
Ranked in the US
#35
Missouri
Balance of Payments
$62,645,000,000
Ranked in the US
#16
$7,855
Ranked in the US
#37
State Government Debt
$18,969,986,000
Ranked in the US
#18
Montana
Balance of Payments
$12,702,000,000
Ranked in the US
#43
$8,056
Ranked in the US
#32
State Government Debt
$2,725,873,000
Ranked in the US
#48
Nebraska
Balance of Payments
$13,776,000,000
Ranked in the US
#41
$8,952
Ranked in the US
#24
State Government Debt
$2,585,834,000
Ranked in the US
#49
Nevada
Balance of Payments
$26,996,000,000
Ranked in the US
#32
$8,940
Ranked in the US
#25
State Government Debt
$3,652,724,000
Ranked in the US
#44
New Hampshire
Balance of Payments
$10,107,000,000
Ranked in the US
#46
$11,617
Ranked in the US
#7
State Government Debt
$7,543,417,000
Ranked in the US
#34
New Jersey
Balance of Payments
$44,274,000,000
Ranked in the US
#22
$12,910
Ranked in the US
#3
State Government Debt
$64,058,342,000
Ranked in the US
#5
New Mexico
Balance of Payments
$31,350,000,000
Ranked in the US
#31
$6,570
Ranked in the US
#47
State Government Debt
$7,267,902,000
Ranked in the US
#36
New York
Balance of Payments
$136,240,000,000
Ranked in the US
#5
$12,575
Ranked in the US
#4
State Government Debt
$156,004,196,000
Ranked in the US
#1
North Carolina
Balance of Payments
$95,625,000,000
Ranked in the US
#9
$7,938
Ranked in the US
#35
State Government Debt
$15,098,522,000
Ranked in the US
#21
North Dakota
Balance of Payments
$7,655,000,000
Ranked in the US
#49
$10,393
Ranked in the US
#13
State Government Debt
$3,017,509,000
Ranked in the US
#47
Ohio
Balance of Payments
$115,881,000,000
Ranked in the US
#7
$7,853
Ranked in the US
#38
State Government Debt
$30,412,376,000
Ranked in the US
#10
Oklahoma
Balance of Payments
$43,129,000,000
Ranked in the US
#23
$6,967
Ranked in the US
#43
State Government Debt
$7,804,816,000
Ranked in the US
#31
Oregon
Balance of Payments
$37,009,000,000
Ranked in the US
#27
$9,071
Ranked in the US
#21
State Government Debt
$14,600,436,000
Ranked in the US
#23
Pennsylvania
Balance of Payments
$132,380,000,000
Ranked in the US
#6
$9,597
Ranked in the US
#15
State Government Debt
$51,734,691,000
Ranked in the US
#7
Rhode Island
Balance of Payments
$12,336,000,000
Ranked in the US
#44
$9,518
Ranked in the US
#17
State Government Debt
$9,371,823,000
Ranked in the US
#30
South Carolina
Balance of Payments
$56,886,000,000
Ranked in the US
#19
$7,405
Ranked in the US
#42
State Government Debt
$12,896,315,000
Ranked in the US
#26
South Dakota
Balance of Payments
$8,952,000,000
Ranked in the US
#47
$8,921
Ranked in the US
#26
State Government Debt
$3,855,938,000
Ranked in the US
#43
Tennessee
Balance of Payments
$68,183,000,000
Ranked in the US
#15
$7,874
Ranked in the US
#36
State Government Debt
$6,858,341,000
Ranked in the US
#38
Texas
Balance of Payments
$191,290,000,000
Ranked in the US
#2
$9,090
Ranked in the US
#20
State Government Debt
$57,886,725,000
Ranked in the US
#6
Utah
Balance of Payments
$16,321,000,000
Ranked in the US
#39
$8,114
Ranked in the US
#30
State Government Debt
$7,593,692,000
Ranked in the US
#32
Vermont
Balance of Payments
$8,919,000,000
Ranked in the US
#48
$8,964
Ranked in the US
#23
State Government Debt
$3,563,173,000
Ranked in the US
#45
Virginia
Balance of Payments
$167,503,000,000
Ranked in the US
#4
$10,638
Ranked in the US
#11
State Government Debt
$29,340,896,000
Ranked in the US
#13
Washington
Balance of Payments
$40,726,000,000
Ranked in the US
#25
$12,151
Ranked in the US
#5
State Government Debt
$29,658,660,000
Ranked in the US
#11
West Virginia
Balance of Payments
$25,335,000,000
Ranked in the US
#33
$6,116
Ranked in the US
#49
State Government Debt
$11,625,729,000
Ranked in the US
#27
Wisconsin
Balance of Payments
$41,191,000,000
Ranked in the US
#24
$8,974
Ranked in the US
#22
State Government Debt
$22,446,313,000
Ranked in the US
#16
Wyoming
Balance of Payments
$5,938,000,000
Ranked in the US
#50
$11,301
Ranked in the US
#9
State Government Debt
$949,280,000
Ranked in the US
#50