Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — European Union

Government consumption (% of GDP) in the European Union in 2025 — 21.6%. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 5.4 pp.

2025 21.6% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 22.5%2020
Period minimum 16.2%1970

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — European Union, 1970–2025161820222419701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 16.2%1971: 17%1972: 17.3%1973: 17.4%1974: 18%1975: 19.2%1976: 19.2%1977: 19.5%1978: 19.8%1979: 19.8%1980: 20.1%1981: 20.8%1982: 20.8%1983: 20.9%1984: 20.6%1985: 20.7%1986: 20.5%1987: 20.7%1988: 20.4%1989: 19.9%1990: 20%1991: 20.2%1992: 20.6%1993: 20.9%1994: 20.6%1995: 20.4%1996: 20.4%1997: 20.2%1998: 19.8%1999: 20%2000: 19.8%2001: 19.9%2002: 20.2%2003: 20.5%2004: 20.3%2005: 20.4%2006: 20.2%2007: 19.8%2008: 20.3%2009: 21.9%2010: 21.7%2011: 21.2%2012: 21.3%2013: 21.4%2014: 21.2%2015: 20.9%2016: 20.9%2017: 20.7%2018: 20.6%2019: 20.7%2020: 22.5%2021: 22%2022: 21.3%2023: 21.1%2024: 21.5%2025: 21.6%
Change over the period: +5.4 pp Annual average: 0.1 pp
Government consumption (% of GDP) — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 21.6 +0.2 pp
2024 21.5 +0.4 pp
2023 21.1 −0.2 pp
2022 21.3 −0.7 pp
2021 22 −0.5 pp
2020 22.5 +1.8 pp
2019 20.7 +0.1 pp
2018 20.6 −0.1 pp
2017 20.7 −0.2 pp
2016 20.9 −0 pp
2015 20.9 −0.4 pp
2014 21.2 −0.2 pp
2013 21.4 +0.1 pp
2012 21.3 +0.1 pp
2011 21.2 −0.4 pp
2010 21.7 −0.3 pp
2009 21.9 +1.6 pp
2008 20.3 +0.5 pp
2007 19.8 −0.3 pp
2006 20.2 −0.2 pp
2005 20.4 +0 pp
2004 20.3 −0.2 pp
2003 20.5 +0.3 pp
2002 20.2 +0.4 pp
2001 19.9 +0 pp
2000 19.8 −0.2 pp
1999 20 +0.1 pp
1998 19.8 −0.3 pp
1997 20.2 −0.3 pp
1996 20.4 +0.1 pp
1995 20.4 −0.2 pp
1994 20.6 −0.3 pp
1993 20.9 +0.3 pp
1992 20.6 +0.4 pp
1991 20.2 +0.1 pp
1990 20 +0.2 pp
1989 19.9 −0.5 pp
1988 20.4 −0.3 pp
1987 20.7 +0.2 pp
1986 20.5 −0.2 pp
1985 20.7 +0.1 pp
1984 20.6 −0.3 pp
1983 20.9 +0 pp
1982 20.8 −0 pp
1981 20.8 +0.7 pp
1980 20.1 +0.4 pp
1979 19.8 −0 pp
1978 19.8 +0.3 pp
1977 19.5 +0.3 pp
1976 19.2 −0 pp
1975 19.2 +1.2 pp
1974 18 +0.6 pp
1973 17.4 +0.1 pp
1972 17.3 +0.3 pp
1971 17 +0.8 pp
1970 16.2

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.