Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Iceland

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Iceland in 2025 — 26.1%. Ranked 8 in the world out of 132. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 11.1 pp.

2025 26.1% +0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 8of 132
Period maximum 28.1%2020
Period minimum 14.9%1970

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Iceland, 1970–2025101520253019701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 14.9%1971: 15.4%1972: 17.1%1973: 16.6%1974: 18.4%1975: 18.9%1976: 18%1977: 18.1%1978: 19.2%1979: 19.8%1980: 19.1%1981: 19.4%1982: 20.5%1983: 20.5%1984: 18.9%1985: 19.9%1986: 20.4%1987: 21.3%1988: 22.5%1989: 21.7%1990: 21.6%1991: 22.3%1992: 23%1993: 23.5%1994: 23.4%1995: 23.9%1996: 23.8%1997: 22.3%1998: 22.5%1999: 23.2%2000: 23.7%2001: 23.8%2002: 25.4%2003: 26%2004: 25.1%2005: 25%2006: 24.8%2007: 24.3%2008: 24.8%2009: 26%2010: 25.4%2011: 25.5%2012: 25.2%2013: 24.9%2014: 24.6%2015: 23.9%2016: 23.4%2017: 24%2018: 24.3%2019: 24.8%2020: 28.1%2021: 27.4%2022: 25.5%2023: 25.2%2024: 25.9%2025: 26.1%
Change over the period: +11.1 pp Annual average: 0.2 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Iceland

Iceland 26.1%
Northern Europe computed 21.2%
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Iceland, by year Iceland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 26.1 +0.1 pp
2024 25.9 +0.7 pp
2023 25.2 −0.4 pp
2022 25.5 −1.9 pp
2021 27.4 −0.6 pp
2020 28.1 +3.3 pp
2019 24.8 +0.5 pp
2018 24.3 +0.3 pp
2017 24 +0.6 pp
2016 23.4 −0.5 pp
2015 23.9 −0.7 pp
2014 24.6 −0.3 pp
2013 24.9 −0.4 pp
2012 25.2 −0.2 pp
2011 25.5 +0.1 pp
2010 25.4 −0.6 pp
2009 26 +1.2 pp
2008 24.8 +0.5 pp
2007 24.3 −0.5 pp
2006 24.8 −0.2 pp
2005 25 −0.1 pp
2004 25.1 −1 pp
2003 26 +0.6 pp
2002 25.4 +1.6 pp
2001 23.8 +0.1 pp
2000 23.7 +0.5 pp
1999 23.2 +0.7 pp
1998 22.5 +0.2 pp
1997 22.3 −1.5 pp
1996 23.8 −0.1 pp
1995 23.9 +0.5 pp
1994 23.4 −0.1 pp
1993 23.5 +0.5 pp
1992 23 +0.7 pp
1991 22.3 +0.7 pp
1990 21.6 −0.2 pp
1989 21.7 −0.7 pp
1988 22.5 +1.2 pp
1987 21.3 +0.9 pp
1986 20.4 +0.5 pp
1985 19.9 +1 pp
1984 18.9 −1.7 pp
1983 20.5 +0.1 pp
1982 20.5 +1 pp
1981 19.4 +0.3 pp
1980 19.1 −0.7 pp
1979 19.8 +0.6 pp
1978 19.2 +1.1 pp
1977 18.1 +0.1 pp
1976 18 −0.9 pp
1975 18.9 +0.4 pp
1974 18.4 +1.9 pp
1973 16.6 −0.5 pp
1972 17.1 +1.7 pp
1971 15.4 +0.5 pp
1970 14.9

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.