Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Northern Europe

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Northern Europe in 2025 — 21.2%. Since 1995, the indicator has risen by 1.9 pp.

2025 21.2% +0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 22.7%2009
Period minimum 18.2%2000

Trend over time

1995–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Northern Europe, 1995–202518202224199519982001200420072010201320162019202220251995: 19.3%1996: 19%1997: 18.2%1998: 18.2%1999: 18.4%2000: 18.2%2001: 18.7%2002: 19.6%2003: 20.1%2004: 20.3%2005: 20.3%2006: 20.3%2007: 20.1%2008: 20.8%2009: 22.7%2010: 22.2%2011: 21.7%2012: 21.6%2013: 21.3%2014: 21%2015: 20.5%2016: 20.5%2017: 20%2018: 19.8%2019: 20.1%2020: 22.4%2021: 21.7%2022: 20.1%2023: 20.8%2024: 21.1%2025: 21.2%
Change over the period: +1.9 pp Annual average: 0.06 pp
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Northern Europe, by year Northern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 21.2 +0.1 pp
2024 21.1 +0.3 pp
2023 20.8 +0.7 pp
2022 20.1 −1.6 pp
2021 21.7 −0.8 pp
2020 22.4 +2.4 pp
2019 20.1 +0.3 pp
2018 19.8 −0.2 pp
2017 20 −0.5 pp
2016 20.5 −0 pp
2015 20.5 −0.5 pp
2014 21 −0.3 pp
2013 21.3 −0.3 pp
2012 21.6 −0.1 pp
2011 21.7 −0.5 pp
2010 22.2 −0.4 pp
2009 22.7 +1.8 pp
2008 20.8 +0.7 pp
2007 20.1 −0.1 pp
2006 20.3 −0 pp
2005 20.3 −0.1 pp
2004 20.3 +0.2 pp
2003 20.1 +0.6 pp
2002 19.6 +0.9 pp
2001 18.7 +0.5 pp
2000 18.2 −0.2 pp
1999 18.4 +0.2 pp
1998 18.2 +0 pp
1997 18.2 −0.8 pp
1996 19 −0.3 pp
1995 19.3

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.