Government expense — all countries

Government expense — France

Government expense in France in 2023 — 47.26%. Ranked 5 in the world out of 87. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 16.99 pp.

2023 47.26% −1.6 pp vs 2022
World rank 5of 87
Period maximum 51.96%2020
Period minimum 29.62%1973

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — France, 1972–2023203040506019721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 30.27%1973: 29.62%1974: 31.41%1975: 33.9%1976: 34.13%1977: 34.46%1978: 35.44%1979: 35.83%1980: 36.82%1981: 39.28%1982: 40.4%1983: 41.15%1984: 41.51%1985: 41.8%1986: 41.12%1987: 40.95%1988: 40.04%1989: 39.11%1990: 39.31%1991: 40.52%1992: 41.89%1993: 44.03%1994: 44.16%1995: 47.73%1996: 47.77%1997: 48.03%1998: 46.27%1999: 46.08%2000: 44.74%2001: 45.13%2002: 46.15%2003: 46.38%2004: 45.71%2005: 45.75%2006: 45.25%2007: 44.91%2008: 45.23%2009: 48.41%2010: 49.69%2011: 47.93%2012: 48.54%2013: 49.07%2014: 49.12%2015: 48.45%2016: 48.15%2017: 48.47%2018: 47.1%2019: 45.89%2020: 51.96%2021: 49.99%2022: 48.86%2023: 47.26%
Change over the period: +16.99 pp Annual average: 0.33 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

France 47.26%
Western Europe computed 40.57%
Government expense — France, by year France All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 47.26 −1.6 pp
2022 48.86 −1.13 pp
2021 49.99 −1.97 pp
2020 51.96 +6.07 pp
2019 45.89 −1.21 pp
2018 47.1 −1.37 pp
2017 48.47 +0.32 pp
2016 48.15 −0.3 pp
2015 48.45 −0.67 pp
2014 49.12 +0.05 pp
2013 49.07 +0.53 pp
2012 48.54 +0.61 pp
2011 47.93 −1.76 pp
2010 49.69 +1.29 pp
2009 48.41 +3.17 pp
2008 45.23 +0.32 pp
2007 44.91 −0.34 pp
2006 45.25 −0.5 pp
2005 45.75 +0.04 pp
2004 45.71 −0.67 pp
2003 46.38 +0.23 pp
2002 46.15 +1.02 pp
2001 45.13 +0.39 pp
2000 44.74 −1.34 pp
1999 46.08 −0.2 pp
1998 46.27 −1.75 pp
1997 48.03 +0.26 pp
1996 47.77 +0.04 pp
1995 47.73 +3.57 pp
1994 44.16 +0.13 pp
1993 44.03 +2.14 pp
1992 41.89 +1.37 pp
1991 40.52 +1.21 pp
1990 39.31 +0.19 pp
1989 39.11 −0.93 pp
1988 40.04 −0.91 pp
1987 40.95 −0.17 pp
1986 41.12 −0.68 pp
1985 41.8 +0.29 pp
1984 41.51 +0.36 pp
1983 41.15 +0.75 pp
1982 40.4 +1.12 pp
1981 39.28 +2.46 pp
1980 36.82 +0.99 pp
1979 35.83 +0.39 pp
1978 35.44 +0.98 pp
1977 34.46 +0.33 pp
1976 34.13 +0.23 pp
1975 33.9 +2.49 pp
1974 31.41 +1.79 pp
1973 29.62 −0.65 pp
1972 30.27

Western 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.