Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Australia

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Australia in 2025 — 23.1%. Ranked 17 in the world out of 132. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 12.1 pp.

2025 23.1% +1 pp vs 2024
World rank 17of 132
Period maximum 23.1%2025
Period minimum 11.1%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Australia, 1960–20251015202519601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 11.1%1962: 11.9%1964: 11.4%1966: 12.8%1968: 13.6%1970: 13.1%1972: 14.4%1974: 14.4%1976: 17.9%1978: 17.8%1980: 17.2%1982: 17.7%1984: 18.3%1986: 19.4%1988: 18.4%1990: 17.6%1992: 19.5%1994: 18.8%1996: 18.6%1998: 18.2%2000: 18.5%2002: 18.3%2004: 18.3%2006: 18.3%2008: 18.1%2010: 18.8%2012: 18.8%2014: 18.7%2016: 19.9%2018: 19.9%2020: 21.8%2022: 22%2024: 22.1%2025: 23.1%
Change over the period: +12.1 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Australia, by year Australia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 23.1 +1 pp
2024 22.1 +0.9 pp
2023 21.2 −0.8 pp
2022 22 −0.3 pp
2021 22.4 +0.6 pp
2020 21.8 +1.5 pp
2019 20.3 +0.3 pp
2018 19.9 +0.1 pp
2017 19.9 −0 pp
2016 19.9 +0.8 pp
2015 19.1 +0.4 pp
2014 18.7 −0.1 pp
2013 18.8 −0.1 pp
2012 18.8 +0.2 pp
2011 18.6 −0.2 pp
2010 18.8 +0.4 pp
2009 18.4 +0.3 pp
2008 18.1 −0.1 pp
2007 18.1 −0.1 pp
2006 18.3 −0.1 pp
2005 18.4 +0.1 pp
2004 18.3 −0.1 pp
2003 18.4 +0.1 pp
2002 18.3 −0.2 pp
2001 18.5 +0 pp
2000 18.5 −0.2 pp
1999 18.7 +0.5 pp
1998 18.2 −0 pp
1997 18.2 −0.3 pp
1996 18.6 −0.1 pp
1995 18.6 −0.2 pp
1994 18.8 −0.6 pp
1993 19.3 −0.1 pp
1992 19.5 +0.9 pp
1991 18.6 +1 pp
1990 17.6 −0.1 pp
1989 17.8 −0.7 pp
1988 18.4 −0.9 pp
1987 19.3 −0.1 pp
1986 19.4 +0.2 pp
1985 19.2 +0.9 pp
1984 18.3 −0.3 pp
1983 18.6 +0.9 pp
1982 17.7 −0.1 pp
1981 17.8 +0.6 pp
1980 17.2 −0.1 pp
1979 17.3 −0.5 pp
1978 17.8 +0.4 pp
1977 17.4 −0.4 pp
1976 17.9 +1.1 pp
1975 16.8 +2.3 pp
1974 14.4 −0.2 pp
1973 14.6 +0.2 pp
1972 14.4 +0.5 pp
1971 13.9 +0.7 pp
1970 13.1 +0.1 pp
1969 13 −0.5 pp
1968 13.6 +0.8 pp
1967 12.8 −0 pp
1966 12.8 +0.9 pp
1965 11.9 +0.5 pp
1964 11.4 −0.3 pp
1963 11.7 −0.3 pp
1962 11.9 +0.6 pp
1961 11.3 +0.2 pp
1960 11.1

About the indicator

General government final consumption expenditure as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services for delivering public services, and spending on defense and security. It leaves out public investment and social transfers, so the indicator is lower than the overall size of the budget.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.