Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Southern Africa

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Southern Africa in 2025 — 19.6%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 11.5 pp.

2025 19.6% −0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 21.6%2020
Period minimum 8.1%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Southern Africa, 1960–202551015202519601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 8.1%1962: 9.3%1964: 9.8%1966: 10.1%1968: 10.1%1970: 10.8%1972: 11%1974: 10.7%1976: 12.9%1978: 13.4%1980: 12.9%1982: 15.1%1984: 16.2%1986: 17.1%1988: 17.2%1990: 17.9%1992: 18.3%1994: 18.6%1996: 17.8%1998: 17.7%2000: 17%2002: 17.1%2004: 17.2%2006: 16.3%2008: 17.7%2010: 18.7%2012: 19.5%2014: 20.1%2016: 20.1%2018: 20.1%2020: 21.6%2022: 19.4%2024: 19.9%2025: 19.6%
Change over the period: +11.5 pp Annual average: 0.18 pp
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 19.6 −0.3 pp
2024 19.9 +0.1 pp
2023 19.8 +0.4 pp
2022 19.4 −0.5 pp
2021 19.9 −1.7 pp
2020 21.6 +1.2 pp
2019 20.4 +0.3 pp
2018 20.1 +0.1 pp
2017 20 −0.1 pp
2016 20.1 +0.3 pp
2015 19.8 −0.2 pp
2014 20.1 +0.2 pp
2013 19.8 +0.3 pp
2012 19.5 +0.8 pp
2011 18.7 +0.1 pp
2010 18.7 +0.1 pp
2009 18.6 +0.9 pp
2008 17.7 +1.2 pp
2007 16.5 +0.2 pp
2006 16.3 −0 pp
2005 16.3 −0.9 pp
2004 17.2 +0 pp
2003 17.2 +0.1 pp
2002 17.1 +0.1 pp
2001 17 +0 pp
2000 17 −0.3 pp
1999 17.4 −0.3 pp
1998 17.7 −0.3 pp
1997 18 +0.1 pp
1996 17.8 +0.8 pp
1995 17.1 −1.5 pp
1994 18.6 +0 pp
1993 18.5 +0.2 pp
1992 18.3 +0.3 pp
1991 18 +0.1 pp
1990 17.9 +0.8 pp
1989 17.1 −0.1 pp
1988 17.2 −0.6 pp
1987 17.8 +0.7 pp
1986 17.1 +0.5 pp
1985 16.6 +0.4 pp
1984 16.2 +1.5 pp
1983 14.7 −0.3 pp
1982 15.1 +1.5 pp
1981 13.6 +0.7 pp
1980 12.9 −0.5 pp
1979 13.5 +0.1 pp
1978 13.4 +0.8 pp
1977 12.6 −0.3 pp
1976 12.9 +0.8 pp
1975 12.1 +1.4 pp
1974 10.7 +0.4 pp
1973 10.3 −0.7 pp
1972 11 −0.7 pp
1971 11.7 +0.9 pp
1970 10.8 +0.4 pp
1969 10.4 +0.2 pp
1968 10.1 +0.2 pp
1967 9.9 −0.2 pp
1966 10.1 +0.1 pp
1965 10 +0.2 pp
1964 9.8 +0.8 pp
1963 9 −0.4 pp
1962 9.3 +0.9 pp
1961 8.4 +0.3 pp
1960 8.1

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.