Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Germany

Government expense in Germany in 2022 — 31.17%. Ranked 49 in the world out of 111. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 11.08 pp.

2022 31.17% −1.49 pp vs 2021
World rank 49of 111
Period maximum 38.22%1995
Period minimum 20.09%1972

Trend over time

1972–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Germany, 1972–20222025303540197219771982198719921997200220072012201720221972: 20.09%1973: 20.51%1974: 22.11%1975: 24.39%1976: 24.55%1977: 24.63%1978: 24.62%1979: 24.16%1980: 25.29%1981: 26.08%1982: 26.32%1983: 25.9%1984: 26.1%1985: 25.67%1986: 25.25%1987: 25.66%1988: 25.45%1989: 24.47%1990: 24.6%1991: 30.97%1992: 31.16%1993: 31.69%1994: 31.75%1995: 38.22%1996: 32.33%1997: 31.79%1998: 31.58%1999: 31.35%2000: 31.01%2001: 30.42%2002: 30.82%2003: 31.16%2004: 29.99%2005: 30%2006: 28.7%2007: 27.53%2008: 27.81%2009: 30.45%2010: 30.76%2011: 28.31%2012: 27.94%2013: 28%2014: 27.52%2015: 27.44%2016: 27.37%2017: 27.52%2018: 27.36%2019: 27.88%2020: 32.15%2021: 32.67%2022: 31.17%
Change over the period: +11.08 pp Annual average: 0.22 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

Germany 31.17%
World 28.49%
Western Europe computed 36.99%
Government expense — Germany, by year Germany All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 31.17 −1.49 pp
2021 32.67 +0.52 pp
2020 32.15 +4.27 pp
2019 27.88 +0.52 pp
2018 27.36 −0.16 pp
2017 27.52 +0.15 pp
2016 27.37 −0.06 pp
2015 27.44 −0.08 pp
2014 27.52 −0.48 pp
2013 28 +0.05 pp
2012 27.94 −0.37 pp
2011 28.31 −2.44 pp
2010 30.76 +0.31 pp
2009 30.45 +2.64 pp
2008 27.81 +0.27 pp
2007 27.53 −1.17 pp
2006 28.7 −1.31 pp
2005 30 +0.02 pp
2004 29.99 −1.18 pp
2003 31.16 +0.34 pp
2002 30.82 +0.41 pp
2001 30.42 −0.59 pp
2000 31.01 −0.34 pp
1999 31.35 −0.23 pp
1998 31.58 −0.22 pp
1997 31.79 −0.54 pp
1996 32.33 −5.89 pp
1995 38.22 +6.47 pp
1994 31.75 +0.06 pp
1993 31.69 +0.53 pp
1992 31.16 +0.19 pp
1991 30.97 +6.38 pp
1990 24.6 +0.13 pp
1989 24.47 −0.98 pp
1988 25.45 −0.21 pp
1987 25.66 +0.41 pp
1986 25.25 −0.42 pp
1985 25.67 −0.43 pp
1984 26.1 +0.2 pp
1983 25.9 −0.42 pp
1982 26.32 +0.24 pp
1981 26.08 +0.78 pp
1980 25.29 +1.13 pp
1979 24.16 −0.45 pp
1978 24.62 −0.01 pp
1977 24.63 +0.08 pp
1976 24.55 +0.16 pp
1975 24.39 +2.28 pp
1974 22.11 +1.6 pp
1973 20.51 +0.42 pp
1972 20.09

Western Europe, 2022

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.