Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Denmark

Government expense in Denmark in 2023 — 33.34%. Ranked 31 in the world out of 87. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 4.26 pp.

2023 33.34% +1.17 pp vs 2022
World rank 31of 87
Period maximum 42.57%2012
Period minimum 26.82%1973

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Denmark, 1972–2023253035404519721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 29.08%1973: 26.82%1974: 30.2%1975: 31.07%1976: 30.02%1977: 30.5%1978: 31.39%1979: 32.86%1980: 36.14%1981: 38.31%1982: 39.37%1983: 39.87%1984: 39.32%1985: 37.6%1986: 35.27%1987: 35.06%1988: 36.52%1989: 36.87%1990: 37.01%1991: 36.6%1992: 37.56%1993: 40.31%1994: 40.75%1995: 41.84%1996: 40.8%1997: 39.08%1998: 38.68%1999: 37.82%2000: 36.33%2001: 35.78%2002: 36.1%2003: 35.77%2004: 35.83%2005: 33.81%2006: 32.55%2007: 34.97%2008: 35.57%2009: 40.73%2010: 41.32%2011: 41.36%2012: 42.57%2013: 40.31%2014: 39.85%2015: 39.47%2016: 37.38%2017: 36.28%2018: 36.18%2019: 35.29%2020: 38.76%2021: 36.42%2022: 32.16%2023: 33.34%
Change over the period: +4.26 pp Annual average: 0.08 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Denmark 33.34%
Government expense — Denmark, by year Denmark All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 33.34 +1.17 pp
2022 32.16 −4.25 pp
2021 36.42 −2.34 pp
2020 38.76 +3.46 pp
2019 35.29 −0.88 pp
2018 36.18 −0.1 pp
2017 36.28 −1.09 pp
2016 37.38 −2.09 pp
2015 39.47 −0.39 pp
2014 39.85 −0.45 pp
2013 40.31 −2.27 pp
2012 42.57 +1.22 pp
2011 41.36 +0.03 pp
2010 41.32 +0.59 pp
2009 40.73 +5.16 pp
2008 35.57 +0.6 pp
2007 34.97 +2.42 pp
2006 32.55 −1.26 pp
2005 33.81 −2.02 pp
2004 35.83 +0.06 pp
2003 35.77 −0.33 pp
2002 36.1 +0.31 pp
2001 35.78 −0.54 pp
2000 36.33 −1.49 pp
1999 37.82 −0.86 pp
1998 38.68 −0.4 pp
1997 39.08 −1.71 pp
1996 40.8 −1.04 pp
1995 41.84 +1.09 pp
1994 40.75 +0.43 pp
1993 40.31 +2.75 pp
1992 37.56 +0.96 pp
1991 36.6 −0.41 pp
1990 37.01 +0.14 pp
1989 36.87 +0.35 pp
1988 36.52 +1.45 pp
1987 35.06 −0.2 pp
1986 35.27 −2.33 pp
1985 37.6 −1.72 pp
1984 39.32 −0.55 pp
1983 39.87 +0.5 pp
1982 39.37 +1.06 pp
1981 38.31 +2.17 pp
1980 36.14 +3.28 pp
1979 32.86 +1.47 pp
1978 31.39 +0.89 pp
1977 30.5 +0.47 pp
1976 30.02 −1.04 pp
1975 31.07 +0.87 pp
1974 30.2 +3.38 pp
1973 26.82 −2.26 pp
1972 29.08

Northern Europe, 2023

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.