Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — South Korea

Government consumption (% of GDP) in South Korea in 2025 — 17.6%. Ranked 56 in the world out of 132. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 3.5 pp.

2025 17.6% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 56of 132
Period maximum 17.8%2023
Period minimum 8.2%1964

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — South Korea, 1960–20257.51012.51517.52019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 14.2%1962: 13.5%1964: 8.2%1966: 9.6%1968: 10.1%1970: 9.8%1972: 10.3%1974: 9.5%1976: 10.6%1978: 9.7%1980: 11.6%1982: 11.5%1984: 10.2%1986: 9.9%1988: 9.6%1990: 10.6%1992: 10.7%1994: 9.9%1996: 10.1%1998: 11.1%2000: 10.6%2002: 11.3%2004: 11.9%2006: 12.8%2008: 13.4%2010: 13.5%2012: 14%2014: 14.5%2016: 14.4%2018: 15.1%2020: 17%2022: 17.6%2024: 17.5%2025: 17.6%
Change over the period: +3.5 pp Annual average: 0.05 pp
Government consumption (% of GDP) — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 17.6 +0.2 pp
2024 17.5 −0.3 pp
2023 17.8 +0.1 pp
2022 17.6 +0.6 pp
2021 17 +0 pp
2020 17 +0.9 pp
2019 16.1 +0.9 pp
2018 15.1 +0.6 pp
2017 14.6 +0.1 pp
2016 14.4 +0.1 pp
2015 14.3 −0.1 pp
2014 14.5 +0.2 pp
2013 14.3 +0.3 pp
2012 14 +0.3 pp
2011 13.7 +0.2 pp
2010 13.5 −0.5 pp
2009 14 +0.6 pp
2008 13.4 +0.5 pp
2007 12.8 +0 pp
2006 12.8 +0.5 pp
2005 12.3 +0.4 pp
2004 11.9 +0.2 pp
2003 11.7 +0.4 pp
2002 11.3 −0 pp
2001 11.4 +0.8 pp
2000 10.6 −0.2 pp
1999 10.8 −0.3 pp
1998 11.1 +1.2 pp
1997 10 −0.1 pp
1996 10.1 +0.4 pp
1995 9.7 −0.2 pp
1994 9.9 −0.4 pp
1993 10.4 −0.3 pp
1992 10.7 +0.3 pp
1991 10.4 −0.2 pp
1990 10.6 +0.2 pp
1989 10.4 +0.8 pp
1988 9.6 −0.1 pp
1987 9.7 −0.3 pp
1986 9.9 −0.3 pp
1985 10.3 +0 pp
1984 10.2 −0.6 pp
1983 10.8 −0.7 pp
1982 11.5 −0.3 pp
1981 11.7 +0.1 pp
1980 11.6 +2 pp
1979 9.6 −0.1 pp
1978 9.7 −0.8 pp
1977 10.5 −0.1 pp
1976 10.6 −0.3 pp
1975 10.9 +1.5 pp
1974 9.5 +0.7 pp
1973 8.8 −1.6 pp
1972 10.3 +0.3 pp
1971 10.1 +0.3 pp
1970 9.8 −0 pp
1969 9.8 −0.2 pp
1968 10.1 +0.3 pp
1967 9.8 +0.2 pp
1966 9.6 +0.7 pp
1965 8.9 +0.7 pp
1964 8.2 −2.3 pp
1963 10.5 −3 pp
1962 13.5 +0.3 pp
1961 13.2 −1 pp
1960 14.2

Eastern 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.