Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Saudi Arabia in 2025 — 20.6%. Ranked 33 in the world out of 132. Since 1968, the indicator has risen by 4.4 pp.

2025 20.6% −0.7 pp vs 2024
World rank 33of 132
Period maximum 35.2%1987
Period minimum 8.4%1974

Trend over time

1968–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia, 1968–2025010203040196819741980198619921998200420102016202220251968: 16.2%1969: 16.8%1970: 15.9%1971: 13.3%1972: 12.7%1973: 14.2%1974: 8.4%1975: 14.5%1976: 16.9%1977: 18.3%1978: 24.3%1979: 21.7%1980: 15.9%1981: 19.5%1982: 26.2%1983: 29.8%1984: 30.1%1985: 31.9%1986: 34.7%1987: 35.2%1988: 30.9%1989: 33.6%1990: 29%1991: 34.2%1992: 29.7%1993: 26.3%1994: 24.2%1995: 23.5%1996: 24.4%1997: 26%1998: 28.2%1999: 25.4%2000: 25.9%2001: 27.3%2002: 26%2003: 24.5%2004: 22.9%2005: 21.3%2006: 22%2007: 20.7%2008: 17.7%2009: 22.2%2010: 20.2%2011: 19.9%2012: 20.2%2013: 22.4%2014: 25.6%2015: 28.9%2016: 24.8%2017: 23.4%2018: 23.2%2019: 22.7%2020: 27.4%2021: 21.7%2022: 19.1%2023: 20.9%2024: 21.3%2025: 20.6%
Change over the period: +4.4 pp Annual average: 0.08 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Saudi Arabia 20.6%
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 20.6 −0.7 pp
2024 21.3 +0.4 pp
2023 20.9 +1.8 pp
2022 19.1 −2.5 pp
2021 21.7 −5.7 pp
2020 27.4 +4.7 pp
2019 22.7 −0.5 pp
2018 23.2 −0.2 pp
2017 23.4 −1.5 pp
2016 24.8 −4.1 pp
2015 28.9 +3.3 pp
2014 25.6 +3.2 pp
2013 22.4 +2.2 pp
2012 20.2 +0.3 pp
2011 19.9 −0.3 pp
2010 20.2 −2 pp
2009 22.2 +4.5 pp
2008 17.7 −3 pp
2007 20.7 −1.4 pp
2006 22 +0.7 pp
2005 21.3 −1.5 pp
2004 22.9 −1.6 pp
2003 24.5 −1.5 pp
2002 26 −1.4 pp
2001 27.3 +1.5 pp
2000 25.9 +0.5 pp
1999 25.4 −2.8 pp
1998 28.2 +2.2 pp
1997 26 +1.7 pp
1996 24.4 +0.9 pp
1995 23.5 −0.8 pp
1994 24.2 −2.1 pp
1993 26.3 −3.4 pp
1992 29.7 −4.4 pp
1991 34.2 +5.1 pp
1990 29 −4.6 pp
1989 33.6 +2.7 pp
1988 30.9 −4.3 pp
1987 35.2 +0.6 pp
1986 34.7 +2.8 pp
1985 31.9 +1.8 pp
1984 30.1 +0.4 pp
1983 29.8 +3.6 pp
1982 26.2 +6.6 pp
1981 19.5 +3.7 pp
1980 15.9 −5.8 pp
1979 21.7 −2.6 pp
1978 24.3 +5.9 pp
1977 18.3 +1.5 pp
1976 16.9 +2.3 pp
1975 14.5 +6.1 pp
1974 8.4 −5.7 pp
1973 14.2 +1.4 pp
1972 12.7 −0.6 pp
1971 13.3 −2.5 pp
1970 15.9 −1 pp
1969 16.8 +0.6 pp
1968 16.2

Western Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.