Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Afghanistan

Government expense in Afghanistan in 2017 — 39.22%. Ranked 16 in the world out of 145. Since 2006, the indicator has risen by 18.64 pp.

2017 39.22% −4.7 pp vs 2016
World rank 16of 145
Period maximum 59.48%2011
Period minimum 20.58%2006

Trend over time

2006–2017 · % of GDP

Government expense — Afghanistan, 2006–2017020406020062008201020122014201620172006: 20.58%2007: 24.24%2008: 50.72%2009: 44.32%2010: 50.86%2011: 59.48%2012: 42.33%2013: 42.09%2014: 44.59%2015: 37.02%2016: 43.92%2017: 39.22%
Change over the period: +18.64 pp Annual average: 1.69 pp

Comparison, 2017

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

Afghanistan 39.22%
World 26.28%
South Asia 14.99%
Southern Asia computed 15.01%
Government expense — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2017 39.22 −4.7 pp
2016 43.92 +6.9 pp
2015 37.02 −7.57 pp
2014 44.59 +2.5 pp
2013 42.09 −0.24 pp
2012 42.33 −17.16 pp
2011 59.48 +8.62 pp
2010 50.86 +6.55 pp
2009 44.32 −6.4 pp
2008 50.72 +26.48 pp
2007 24.24 +3.67 pp
2006 20.58

Southern Asia, 2017

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

Central government expense as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services, interest on debt, subsidies, grants and social benefits. The indicator is broader than government consumption from the national accounts, because it includes transfers — pensions and benefits — which the accounts record as household income. The quantity is closely tied to the level of income: in advanced countries it is usually twice as high as in the poorest ones.

Important: Central government only. In federations the spending of regions is not included here, so comparing unitary and federal states by this indicator calls for a caveat.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.