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Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — OECD

Government consumption (% of GDP) in the OECD in 2025 — 20.3%. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 3.9 pp.

2025 20.3% +3 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 20.3%2025
Period minimum 16.1%2000

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — OECD, 1970–20251618202219701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 16.5%1971: 16.8%1972: 16.7%1973: 16.4%1974: 17%1975: 18%1976: 17.6%1977: 17.4%1978: 17.2%1979: 17.1%1980: 17.5%1981: 17.5%1982: 17.9%1983: 17.7%1984: 17.1%1985: 17.1%1986: 17.2%1987: 17.2%1988: 16.8%1989: 16.6%1990: 17%1991: 17.2%1992: 17.4%1993: 17.1%1994: 16.8%1995: 16.7%1996: 16.6%1997: 16.3%1998: 16.2%1999: 16.3%2000: 16.1%2001: 16.5%2002: 17%2003: 17.4%2004: 17.4%2005: 17.3%2006: 17.2%2007: 17.3%2008: 17.8%2009: 19.1%2010: 18.8%2011: 18.5%2012: 18.2%2013: 18%2014: 17.7%2015: 17.3%2016: 17.3%2017: 17.1%2018: 17.1%2019: 17.2%2020: 18.5%2021: 18%2022: 17.2%2023: 17.1%2024: 17.3%2025: 20.3%
Change over the period: +3.9 pp Annual average: 0.07 pp
Government consumption (% of GDP) — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 20.3 +3 pp
2024 17.3 +0.2 pp
2023 17.1 −0.1 pp
2022 17.2 −0.8 pp
2021 18 −0.5 pp
2020 18.5 +1.3 pp
2019 17.2 +0.1 pp
2018 17.1 +0 pp
2017 17.1 −0.2 pp
2016 17.3 −0 pp
2015 17.3 −0.5 pp
2014 17.7 −0.3 pp
2013 18 −0.2 pp
2012 18.2 −0.3 pp
2011 18.5 −0.3 pp
2010 18.8 −0.3 pp
2009 19.1 +1.2 pp
2008 17.8 +0.6 pp
2007 17.3 +0 pp
2006 17.2 −0.1 pp
2005 17.3 −0.1 pp
2004 17.4 −0 pp
2003 17.4 +0.4 pp
2002 17 +0.5 pp
2001 16.5 +0.4 pp
2000 16.1 −0.2 pp
1999 16.3 +0.1 pp
1998 16.2 −0 pp
1997 16.3 −0.3 pp
1996 16.6 −0.1 pp
1995 16.7 −0.1 pp
1994 16.8 −0.3 pp
1993 17.1 −0.3 pp
1992 17.4 +0.2 pp
1991 17.2 +0.2 pp
1990 17 +0.4 pp
1989 16.6 −0.2 pp
1988 16.8 −0.4 pp
1987 17.2 +0 pp
1986 17.2 +0.1 pp
1985 17.1 −0 pp
1984 17.1 −0.6 pp
1983 17.7 −0.2 pp
1982 17.9 +0.4 pp
1981 17.5 −0 pp
1980 17.5 +0.4 pp
1979 17.1 −0.1 pp
1978 17.2 −0.3 pp
1977 17.4 −0.1 pp
1976 17.6 −0.4 pp
1975 18 +1 pp
1974 17 +0.6 pp
1973 16.4 −0.4 pp
1972 16.7 −0.1 pp
1971 16.8 +0.3 pp
1970 16.5 —

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.

Other indicators for the OECD

Economy Government consumption in US dollars

How much the state spends on running itself: public sector wages, purchases, defense.

OECD by year Economy Household consumption (% of GDP)

What share of GDP is made up of household final consumption spending.

OECD by year Public Finance Tax revenue (% of GDP)

Taxes collected as a percent of GDP — the fiscal capacity of the state.

OECD by year Public Finance Government debt

Gross general government debt as a percent of GDP.

OECD by year
All indicators for the OECD