Contact Contacts
Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Western Africa

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Western Africa in 2025 — 12.3%. Since 1970, the indicator has fallen by 0.6 pp.

2025 12.3% +1.8 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 16.9%1980
Period minimum 10.5%2024

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Western Africa, 1970–2025101214161819701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 12.9%1971: 13.8%1972: 14.3%1973: 13.7%1974: 14%1975: 15.6%1976: 15.9%1977: 15.3%1978: 15.7%1979: 16.2%1980: 16.9%1981: 16.4%1982: 15.6%1983: 15.5%1984: 14.3%1985: 14.5%1986: 14.5%1987: 15.1%1988: 15.1%1989: 15.3%1990: 15.9%1991: 14.5%1992: 14.9%1993: 14.4%1994: 12.5%1995: 11.4%1996: 11.9%1997: 11.8%1998: 12.9%1999: 11.7%2000: 11.8%2001: 11.7%2002: 11.7%2003: 11.8%2004: 12.1%2005: 12.6%2006: 11.2%2007: 11.5%2008: 11.6%2009: 12%2010: 11.7%2011: 13.8%2012: 12.7%2013: 11.8%2014: 12%2015: 11.4%2016: 11.4%2017: 11%2018: 11%2019: 11.4%2020: 12%2021: 11.8%2022: 11.5%2023: 10.8%2024: 10.5%2025: 12.3%
Change over the period: −0.6 pp Annual average: -0.01 pp
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.3 +1.8 pp
2024 10.5 −0.3 pp
2023 10.8 −0.7 pp
2022 11.5 −0.3 pp
2021 11.8 −0.1 pp
2020 12 +0.6 pp
2019 11.4 +0.4 pp
2018 11 −0 pp
2017 11 −0.3 pp
2016 11.4 −0.1 pp
2015 11.4 −0.6 pp
2014 12 +0.2 pp
2013 11.8 −0.9 pp
2012 12.7 −1.1 pp
2011 13.8 +2.1 pp
2010 11.7 −0.4 pp
2009 12 +0.5 pp
2008 11.6 +0.1 pp
2007 11.5 +0.3 pp
2006 11.2 −1.4 pp
2005 12.6 +0.4 pp
2004 12.1 +0.3 pp
2003 11.8 +0.1 pp
2002 11.7 +0.1 pp
2001 11.7 −0.2 pp
2000 11.8 +0.2 pp
1999 11.7 −1.2 pp
1998 12.9 +1.1 pp
1997 11.8 −0.2 pp
1996 11.9 +0.5 pp
1995 11.4 −1.1 pp
1994 12.5 −1.9 pp
1993 14.4 −0.5 pp
1992 14.9 +0.4 pp
1991 14.5 −1.4 pp
1990 15.9 +0.6 pp
1989 15.3 +0.2 pp
1988 15.1 +0.1 pp
1987 15.1 +0.5 pp
1986 14.5 +0.1 pp
1985 14.5 +0.2 pp
1984 14.3 −1.3 pp
1983 15.5 −0.1 pp
1982 15.6 −0.8 pp
1981 16.4 −0.5 pp
1980 16.9 +0.6 pp
1979 16.2 +0.5 pp
1978 15.7 +0.4 pp
1977 15.3 −0.6 pp
1976 15.9 +0.4 pp
1975 15.6 +1.5 pp
1974 14 +0.3 pp
1973 13.7 −0.5 pp
1972 14.3 +0.5 pp
1971 13.8 +0.9 pp
1970 12.9 —

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.

Other indicators for Western Africa

Economy Government consumption in US dollars

How much the state spends on running itself: public sector wages, purchases, defense.

Western Africa by year Economy Household consumption (% of GDP)

What share of GDP is made up of household final consumption spending.

Western Africa by year Public Finance Government debt

Gross general government debt as a percent of GDP.

Western Africa by year
All indicators for Western Africa