Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Finland

Government expense in Finland in 2023 — 44.91%. Ranked 7 in the world out of 87. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 24.25 pp.

2023 44.91% +6.97 pp vs 2022
World rank 7of 87
Period maximum 48.67%1995
Period minimum 19.87%1973

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Finland, 1972–2023102030405019721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 20.66%1973: 19.87%1974: 21.09%1975: 24.71%1976: 25.38%1977: 26.18%1978: 26.17%1979: 25.99%1980: 25.37%1981: 25.83%1982: 27.06%1983: 28.09%1984: 27.01%1985: 27.82%1986: 28.26%1987: 28.73%1988: 27.61%1989: 26.88%1990: 28.15%1991: 34.43%1992: 39.12%1993: 41.95%1994: 40.48%1995: 48.67%1996: 44.95%1997: 40.33%1998: 37.56%1999: 36.5%2000: 33.92%2001: 33.26%2002: 34.32%2003: 34.9%2004: 34.6%2005: 34.69%2006: 34.29%2007: 32.64%2008: 33.37%2009: 38.23%2010: 38.42%2011: 37.99%2012: 39.07%2013: 40.29%2014: 40.79%2015: 40.68%2016: 39.94%2017: 38.17%2018: 37.68%2019: 37.31%2020: 41.48%2021: 40.1%2022: 37.93%2023: 44.91%
Change over the period: +24.25 pp Annual average: 0.48 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Finland 44.91%
Government expense — Finland, by year Finland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 44.91 +6.97 pp
2022 37.93 −2.17 pp
2021 40.1 −1.38 pp
2020 41.48 +4.17 pp
2019 37.31 −0.37 pp
2018 37.68 −0.49 pp
2017 38.17 −1.77 pp
2016 39.94 −0.74 pp
2015 40.68 −0.11 pp
2014 40.79 +0.51 pp
2013 40.29 +1.21 pp
2012 39.07 +1.08 pp
2011 37.99 −0.42 pp
2010 38.42 +0.19 pp
2009 38.23 +4.85 pp
2008 33.37 +0.73 pp
2007 32.64 −1.64 pp
2006 34.29 −0.4 pp
2005 34.69 +0.09 pp
2004 34.6 −0.3 pp
2003 34.9 +0.58 pp
2002 34.32 +1.07 pp
2001 33.26 −0.66 pp
2000 33.92 −2.59 pp
1999 36.5 −1.05 pp
1998 37.56 −2.77 pp
1997 40.33 −4.62 pp
1996 44.95 −3.73 pp
1995 48.67 +8.2 pp
1994 40.48 −1.47 pp
1993 41.95 +2.83 pp
1992 39.12 +4.7 pp
1991 34.43 +6.27 pp
1990 28.15 +1.27 pp
1989 26.88 −0.72 pp
1988 27.61 −1.12 pp
1987 28.73 +0.47 pp
1986 28.26 +0.43 pp
1985 27.82 +0.81 pp
1984 27.01 −1.08 pp
1983 28.09 +1.03 pp
1982 27.06 +1.23 pp
1981 25.83 +0.46 pp
1980 25.37 −0.62 pp
1979 25.99 −0.17 pp
1978 26.17 −0.01 pp
1977 26.18 +0.8 pp
1976 25.38 +0.67 pp
1975 24.71 +3.62 pp
1974 21.09 +1.22 pp
1973 19.87 −0.79 pp
1972 20.66

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.