Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Greece

Government expense in Greece in 2023 — 47.3%. Ranked 3 in the world out of 87. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 30.98 pp.

2023 47.3% −3.5 pp vs 2022
World rank 3of 87
Period maximum 61.35%2013
Period minimum 16.03%1973

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Greece, 1972–202302040608019721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 16.32%1973: 16.03%1974: 18.46%1975: 18.16%1976: 19.64%1977: 20.6%1978: 20.44%1979: 20.26%1980: 21.7%1981: 24.52%1982: 34.17%1983: 27.77%1984: 31.69%1985: 32.02%1986: 31.84%1987: 34.82%1988: 34.61%1989: 38.81%1990: 42.89%1995: 44.51%1996: 44.4%1997: 43.75%1998: 44.18%1999: 43.46%2000: 44.45%2001: 43.8%2002: 43.2%2003: 43.18%2004: 44.56%2005: 43.93%2006: 43.12%2007: 44.71%2008: 47.85%2009: 51.97%2010: 51.08%2011: 54.78%2012: 57.38%2013: 61.35%2014: 49.75%2015: 52.21%2016: 48.86%2017: 47.67%2018: 48.02%2019: 46.93%2020: 58.07%2021: 54.83%2022: 50.8%2023: 47.3%
Change over the period: +30.98 pp Annual average: 0.61 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Greece 47.3%
Southern Europe computed 41.59%
Government expense — Greece, by year Greece All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 47.3 −3.5 pp
2022 50.8 −4.03 pp
2021 54.83 −3.24 pp
2020 58.07 +11.14 pp
2019 46.93 −1.1 pp
2018 48.02 +0.35 pp
2017 47.67 −1.18 pp
2016 48.86 −3.36 pp
2015 52.21 +2.46 pp
2014 49.75 −11.61 pp
2013 61.35 +3.98 pp
2012 57.38 +2.59 pp
2011 54.78 +3.71 pp
2010 51.08 −0.89 pp
2009 51.97 +4.11 pp
2008 47.85 +3.15 pp
2007 44.71 +1.58 pp
2006 43.12 −0.8 pp
2005 43.93 −0.63 pp
2004 44.56 +1.38 pp
2003 43.18 −0.02 pp
2002 43.2 −0.6 pp
2001 43.8 −0.64 pp
2000 44.45 +0.99 pp
1999 43.46 −0.72 pp
1998 44.18 +0.43 pp
1997 43.75 −0.65 pp
1996 44.4 −0.11 pp
1995 44.51
1990 42.89 +4.08 pp
1989 38.81 +4.2 pp
1988 34.61 −0.22 pp
1987 34.82 +2.98 pp
1986 31.84 −0.18 pp
1985 32.02 +0.34 pp
1984 31.69 +3.92 pp
1983 27.77 −6.41 pp
1982 34.17 +9.65 pp
1981 24.52 +2.82 pp
1980 21.7 +1.44 pp
1979 20.26 −0.18 pp
1978 20.44 −0.16 pp
1977 20.6 +0.96 pp
1976 19.64 +1.48 pp
1975 18.16 −0.3 pp
1974 18.46 +2.42 pp
1973 16.03 −0.29 pp
1972 16.32

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.