Government expense — all countries

Government expense — El Salvador

Government expense in El Salvador in 2023 — 27.92%. Ranked 41 in the world out of 87. Since 1998, the indicator has risen by 15.93 pp.

2023 27.92% +0.52 pp vs 2022
World rank 41of 87
Period maximum 33.94%2020
Period minimum 11.99%1998

Trend over time

1998–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — El Salvador, 1998–2023102030401998200120042007201020132016201920221998: 11.99%1999: 14.24%2000: 15.02%2001: 22.97%2002: 20.22%2003: 17.34%2004: 19.62%2005: 20.48%2006: 22.53%2007: 20.54%2008: 22.75%2009: 25.85%2010: 24.15%2011: 24.89%2012: 22.9%2013: 23%2014: 22.77%2015: 22.76%2016: 23.21%2017: 24.84%2018: 24.73%2019: 24.76%2020: 33.94%2021: 29.51%2022: 27.39%2023: 27.92%
Change over the period: +15.93 pp Annual average: 0.64 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

El Salvador 27.92%
Central America computed 22.3%
Government expense — El Salvador, by year El Salvador All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 27.92 +0.52 pp
2022 27.39 −2.11 pp
2021 29.51 −4.44 pp
2020 33.94 +9.19 pp
2019 24.76 +0.03 pp
2018 24.73 −0.12 pp
2017 24.84 +1.64 pp
2016 23.21 +0.44 pp
2015 22.76 −0.01 pp
2014 22.77 −0.23 pp
2013 23 +0.09 pp
2012 22.9 −1.99 pp
2011 24.89 +0.74 pp
2010 24.15 −1.71 pp
2009 25.85 +3.1 pp
2008 22.75 +2.21 pp
2007 20.54 −1.99 pp
2006 22.53 +2.05 pp
2005 20.48 +0.86 pp
2004 19.62 +2.27 pp
2003 17.34 −2.88 pp
2002 20.22 −2.75 pp
2001 22.97 +7.95 pp
2000 15.02 +0.78 pp
1999 14.24 +2.24 pp
1998 11.99

Central America, 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.