Budget balance — all countries

Budget balance — World

Budget balance in the world in 2031 — -4.85%. Since 1997, the indicator has fallen by 2.57 pp.

2031 -4.85% +0.04 pp vs 2030
World rank
Period maximum -0.7%2007
Period minimum -9.5%2020

Trend over time

1997–2031 · % of GDP

Budget balance — World, 1997–2031-10-7.5-5-2.5019972001200520092013201720212025202920311997: -2.27%1998: -3.75%1999: -2.49%2000: -1.9%2001: -1.9%2002: -3.43%2003: -3.68%2004: -2.74%2005: -1.7%2006: -0.75%2007: -0.7%2008: -2.17%2009: -7.06%2010: -5.74%2011: -4.24%2012: -3.74%2013: -2.89%2014: -2.78%2015: -3.12%2016: -3.3%2017: -2.96%2018: -2.81%2019: -3.52%2020: -9.5%2021: -6.32%2022: -3.69%2023: -5.03%2024: -5.11%2025: -5%2026: -5.22%2027: -5.15%2028: -5.08%2029: -4.92%2030: -4.88%2031: -4.85%
Change over the period: −2.57 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2031

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: World

World -4.85%
World computed -4.85%
Budget balance — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2031 -4.85 +0.04 pp
2030 -4.88 +0.04 pp
2029 -4.92 +0.16 pp
2028 -5.08 +0.07 pp
2027 -5.15 +0.07 pp
2026 -5.22 −0.22 pp
2025 -5 +0.11 pp
2024 -5.11 −0.08 pp
2023 -5.03 −1.34 pp
2022 -3.69 +2.63 pp
2021 -6.32 +3.18 pp
2020 -9.5 −5.98 pp
2019 -3.52 −0.71 pp
2018 -2.81 +0.15 pp
2017 -2.96 +0.33 pp
2016 -3.3 −0.18 pp
2015 -3.12 −0.34 pp
2014 -2.78 +0.11 pp
2013 -2.89 +0.85 pp
2012 -3.74 +0.5 pp
2011 -4.24 +1.51 pp
2010 -5.74 +1.32 pp
2009 -7.06 −4.89 pp
2008 -2.17 −1.47 pp
2007 -0.7 +0.05 pp
2006 -0.75 +0.95 pp
2005 -1.7 +1.04 pp
2004 -2.74 +0.94 pp
2003 -3.68 −0.25 pp
2002 -3.43 −1.53 pp
2001 -1.9 +0.01 pp
2000 -1.9 +0.58 pp
1999 -2.49 +1.26 pp
1998 -3.75 −1.48 pp
1997 -2.27

About the indicator

Net lending or net borrowing of general government as a percent of GDP — what is commonly called the budget deficit, taken with a plus sign when there is a surplus. General government includes regions, local authorities and extrabudgetary funds, so the quantity is fuller than the balance of the central budget alone. The IMF series runs with a forecast several years ahead.

Important: Negative values are deficits. Accumulated deficits are what government debt is, so the two indicators are worth looking at together: a country can live with a deficit for years and carry a small debt all the same, if its economy grows faster.

Source: World Economic Outlook (IMF), license IMF open data.