Government expense — all countries

Government expense — G20

Government expense in the G20 in 2023 — 28.62%. Since 1973, the indicator has risen by 9.52 pp.

2023 28.62% +1.17 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 33.29%2020
Period minimum 19.1%1973

Trend over time

1973–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — G20, 1973–20231520253035197319781983198819931998200320082013201820231973: 19.1%1974: 19.51%1975: 21.62%1976: 21.62%1977: 21.51%1978: 21.75%1979: 22.26%1980: 23.59%1981: 22.7%1983: 23.66%1984: 22.68%1985: 22.94%1986: 24.25%1987: 24.03%1988: 23.05%1989: 22.77%1990: 23.47%1991: 27.6%1992: 27.86%1993: 27.1%1994: 23.69%1995: 24.66%1996: 24.14%1997: 23.33%1998: 24.05%1999: 22.93%2000: 22.13%2001: 23.17%2002: 23.77%2003: 24.57%2004: 24.36%2005: 24.58%2006: 24.42%2007: 24.65%2008: 25.9%2009: 28.17%2010: 27.78%2011: 26.98%2012: 26.59%2013: 26.33%2014: 26.21%2015: 26%2016: 25.64%2017: 25.47%2018: 25.42%2019: 26%2020: 33.29%2021: 31.92%2022: 27.45%2023: 28.62%
Change over the period: +9.52 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp
Government expense — G20, by year G20 All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 28.62 +1.17 pp
2022 27.45 −4.47 pp
2021 31.92 −1.37 pp
2020 33.29 +7.29 pp
2019 26 +0.58 pp
2018 25.42 −0.05 pp
2017 25.47 −0.18 pp
2016 25.64 −0.35 pp
2015 26 −0.21 pp
2014 26.21 −0.12 pp
2013 26.33 −0.26 pp
2012 26.59 −0.39 pp
2011 26.98 −0.79 pp
2010 27.78 −0.39 pp
2009 28.17 +2.27 pp
2008 25.9 +1.25 pp
2007 24.65 +0.22 pp
2006 24.42 −0.16 pp
2005 24.58 +0.22 pp
2004 24.36 −0.2 pp
2003 24.57 +0.79 pp
2002 23.77 +0.6 pp
2001 23.17 +1.04 pp
2000 22.13 −0.8 pp
1999 22.93 −1.11 pp
1998 24.05 +0.72 pp
1997 23.33 −0.81 pp
1996 24.14 −0.52 pp
1995 24.66 +0.96 pp
1994 23.69 −3.41 pp
1993 27.1 −0.75 pp
1992 27.86 +0.25 pp
1991 27.6 +4.13 pp
1990 23.47 +0.7 pp
1989 22.77 −0.27 pp
1988 23.05 −0.98 pp
1987 24.03 −0.23 pp
1986 24.25 +1.31 pp
1985 22.94 +0.26 pp
1984 22.68 −0.98 pp
1983 23.66
1981 22.7 −0.89 pp
1980 23.59 +1.33 pp
1979 22.26 +0.51 pp
1978 21.75 +0.24 pp
1977 21.51 −0.12 pp
1976 21.62 +0 pp
1975 21.62 +2.11 pp
1974 19.51 +0.41 pp
1973 19.1

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.