Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Estonia

Government expense in Estonia in 2023 — 37.69%. Ranked 16 in the world out of 87. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 16.05 pp.

2023 37.69% +2.27 pp vs 2022
World rank 16of 87
Period maximum 40.94%2009
Period minimum 21.64%1991

Trend over time

1991–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Estonia, 1991–20232025303540451991199519992003200720112015201920231991: 21.64%1995: 37.16%1996: 35.94%1997: 33.77%1998: 35.59%1999: 37.07%2000: 33.36%2001: 31.34%2002: 30.74%2003: 30.74%2004: 30.62%2005: 30.01%2006: 29.6%2007: 29.27%2008: 34.38%2009: 40.94%2010: 38.24%2011: 34.85%2012: 34.2%2013: 34.11%2014: 33.61%2015: 35.82%2016: 35.82%2017: 34.7%2018: 35.22%2019: 35.65%2020: 40.91%2021: 38.24%2022: 35.42%2023: 37.69%
Change over the period: +16.05 pp Annual average: 0.5 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Estonia 37.69%
Government expense — Estonia, by year Estonia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 37.69 +2.27 pp
2022 35.42 −2.82 pp
2021 38.24 −2.67 pp
2020 40.91 +5.26 pp
2019 35.65 +0.43 pp
2018 35.22 +0.52 pp
2017 34.7 −1.12 pp
2016 35.82 +0 pp
2015 35.82 +2.21 pp
2014 33.61 −0.5 pp
2013 34.11 −0.08 pp
2012 34.2 −0.66 pp
2011 34.85 −3.39 pp
2010 38.24 −2.7 pp
2009 40.94 +6.56 pp
2008 34.38 +5.11 pp
2007 29.27 −0.33 pp
2006 29.6 −0.41 pp
2005 30.01 −0.6 pp
2004 30.62 −0.12 pp
2003 30.74 −0.01 pp
2002 30.74 −0.6 pp
2001 31.34 −2.02 pp
2000 33.36 −3.71 pp
1999 37.07 +1.48 pp
1998 35.59 +1.81 pp
1997 33.77 −2.16 pp
1996 35.94 −1.23 pp
1995 37.16
1991 21.64

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.