Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Sub-Saharan Africa

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 17%. Since 1965, the indicator has risen by 6.5 pp.

2025 17% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 20.8%1992
Period minimum 10.5%1965

Trend over time

1965–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1965–202510152025196519711977198319891995200120072013201920251965: 10.5%1967: 11.2%1969: 11.7%1971: 12.9%1973: 11.8%1975: 12.5%1977: 12.4%1979: 13.8%1981: 10.6%1983: 12.6%1985: 12.8%1987: 18.7%1989: 18%1991: 18.6%1993: 20.2%1995: 15.5%1997: 14.1%1999: 18.5%2001: 17.2%2003: 17.4%2005: 16.1%2007: 15.2%2009: 16.2%2011: 16.6%2013: 16.2%2015: 15.2%2017: 16.4%2019: 13.9%2021: 14.8%2023: 15.4%2025: 17%
Change over the period: +6.5 pp Annual average: 0.11 pp
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 17 −0.2 pp
2024 17.2 +1.8 pp
2023 15.4 +0.6 pp
2022 14.8 +0 pp
2021 14.8 +0.1 pp
2020 14.7 +0.8 pp
2019 13.9 −1.7 pp
2018 15.7 −0.7 pp
2017 16.4 +0.6 pp
2016 15.8 +0.5 pp
2015 15.2 −0.1 pp
2014 15.4 −0.8 pp
2013 16.2 −0.1 pp
2012 16.3 −0.4 pp
2011 16.6 +0.8 pp
2010 15.8 −0.3 pp
2009 16.2 +1.3 pp
2008 14.9 −0.3 pp
2007 15.2 +0.1 pp
2006 15.1 −1.1 pp
2005 16.1 −1 pp
2004 17.1 −0.3 pp
2003 17.4 +1.5 pp
2002 16 −1.3 pp
2001 17.2 −0.1 pp
2000 17.4 −1.1 pp
1999 18.5 +5 pp
1998 13.5 −0.6 pp
1997 14.1 −0.2 pp
1996 14.3 −1.2 pp
1995 15.5 −3.3 pp
1994 18.9 −1.3 pp
1993 20.2 −0.6 pp
1992 20.8 +2.2 pp
1991 18.6 +0.1 pp
1990 18.5 +0.5 pp
1989 18 −0.3 pp
1988 18.2 −0.4 pp
1987 18.7 +1.9 pp
1986 16.8 +4 pp
1985 12.8 −1 pp
1984 13.9 +1.3 pp
1983 12.6 +1.5 pp
1982 11.1 +0.4 pp
1981 10.6 −3.7 pp
1980 14.3 +0.5 pp
1979 13.8 +0.5 pp
1978 13.3 +0.9 pp
1977 12.4 +0.3 pp
1976 12.1 −0.4 pp
1975 12.5 +1.2 pp
1974 11.3 −0.5 pp
1973 11.8 −0.4 pp
1972 12.2 −0.7 pp
1971 12.9 +1.4 pp
1970 11.5 −0.2 pp
1969 11.7 −0.3 pp
1968 11.9 +0.8 pp
1967 11.2 +0.7 pp
1966 10.5 +0 pp
1965 10.5

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.