Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Australia

Government expense in Australia in 2022 — 27.58%. Ranked 60 in the world out of 111. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 9.55 pp.

2022 27.58% −4.97 pp vs 2021
World rank 60of 111
Period maximum 32.55%2021
Period minimum 18.03%1972

Trend over time

1972–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Australia, 1972–20221520253035197219771982198719921997200220072012201720221972: 18.03%1973: 18.44%1974: 18.12%1975: 21.24%1976: 23.61%1977: 23.59%1978: 24.47%1979: 23.67%1980: 23.33%1981: 23.53%1982: 23.26%1983: 25.54%1984: 26.44%1985: 26.39%1986: 26.09%1987: 25.66%1988: 24.17%1989: 22.16%1990: 21.79%1991: 23.13%1992: 24.4%1993: 24.93%1994: 25.06%1995: 25.35%1996: 24.53%1997: 23.77%1998: 21.29%1999: 24.46%2000: 23.99%2001: 26.13%2002: 26.31%2003: 25.66%2004: 25.56%2005: 25.51%2006: 24.86%2007: 24.4%2008: 24.27%2009: 26.38%2010: 26.62%2011: 25.92%2012: 26.03%2013: 25.77%2014: 26.14%2015: 26.66%2016: 26.88%2017: 26.53%2018: 26.13%2019: 26.07%2020: 30.14%2021: 32.55%2022: 27.58%
Change over the period: +9.55 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

Australia 27.58%
World 28.49%
Australia and New Zealand computed 28.6%
Government expense — Australia, by year Australia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 27.58 −4.97 pp
2021 32.55 +2.41 pp
2020 30.14 +4.07 pp
2019 26.07 −0.06 pp
2018 26.13 −0.4 pp
2017 26.53 −0.35 pp
2016 26.88 +0.22 pp
2015 26.66 +0.51 pp
2014 26.14 +0.37 pp
2013 25.77 −0.26 pp
2012 26.03 +0.12 pp
2011 25.92 −0.7 pp
2010 26.62 +0.24 pp
2009 26.38 +2.11 pp
2008 24.27 −0.13 pp
2007 24.4 −0.45 pp
2006 24.86 −0.66 pp
2005 25.51 −0.05 pp
2004 25.56 −0.1 pp
2003 25.66 −0.65 pp
2002 26.31 +0.19 pp
2001 26.13 +2.14 pp
2000 23.99 −0.47 pp
1999 24.46 +3.17 pp
1998 21.29 −2.48 pp
1997 23.77 −0.76 pp
1996 24.53 −0.82 pp
1995 25.35 +0.29 pp
1994 25.06 +0.12 pp
1993 24.93 +0.53 pp
1992 24.4 +1.27 pp
1991 23.13 +1.35 pp
1990 21.79 −0.37 pp
1989 22.16 −2.01 pp
1988 24.17 −1.5 pp
1987 25.66 −0.43 pp
1986 26.09 −0.3 pp
1985 26.39 −0.05 pp
1984 26.44 +0.9 pp
1983 25.54 +2.28 pp
1982 23.26 −0.27 pp
1981 23.53 +0.2 pp
1980 23.33 −0.34 pp
1979 23.67 −0.8 pp
1978 24.47 +0.88 pp
1977 23.59 −0.03 pp
1976 23.61 +2.37 pp
1975 21.24 +3.13 pp
1974 18.12 −0.32 pp
1973 18.44 +0.4 pp
1972 18.03

Australia and New Zealand, 2022

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

NZ New Zealand 35.5 AU Australia 27.58

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.