Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Iran

Government expense in Iran in 2009 — 19.64%. Ranked 84 in the world out of 122. Since 1972, the indicator has fallen by 1.13 pp.

2009 19.64% +1.39 pp vs 2008
World rank 84of 122
Period maximum 34.07%1975
Period minimum 13.2%1991

Trend over time

1972–2009 · % of GDP

Government expense — Iran, 1972–20091020304019721976198019841988199219962000200420081972: 20.76%1973: 18.47%1974: 33.07%1975: 34.07%1976: 29.42%1977: 27.96%1978: 29.28%1979: 25.9%1980: 27.36%1981: 27.18%1982: 23%1983: 20.32%1984: 18.55%1985: 18.34%1986: 17.44%1987: 16.82%1988: 18.35%1989: 15%1990: 14.67%1991: 13.2%1992: 13.89%1993: 14.83%1994: 15.54%1995: 14.88%1996: 15.61%1997: 15.92%1998: 18.17%1999: 16.58%2000: 15.59%2001: 17.55%2002: 17.49%2003: 17.18%2004: 16.65%2005: 19.42%2006: 20.72%2007: 16.83%2008: 18.25%2009: 19.64%
Change over the period: −1.13 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2009

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

Iran 19.64%
World 28.39%
Southern Asia computed 17.37%
Government expense — Iran, by year Iran All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2009 19.64 +1.39 pp
2008 18.25 +1.43 pp
2007 16.83 −3.89 pp
2006 20.72 +1.3 pp
2005 19.42 +2.77 pp
2004 16.65 −0.52 pp
2003 17.18 −0.31 pp
2002 17.49 −0.06 pp
2001 17.55 +1.96 pp
2000 15.59 −0.99 pp
1999 16.58 −1.59 pp
1998 18.17 +2.25 pp
1997 15.92 +0.31 pp
1996 15.61 +0.73 pp
1995 14.88 −0.66 pp
1994 15.54 +0.71 pp
1993 14.83 +0.94 pp
1992 13.89 +0.69 pp
1991 13.2 −1.46 pp
1990 14.67 −0.33 pp
1989 15 −3.35 pp
1988 18.35 +1.53 pp
1987 16.82 −0.63 pp
1986 17.44 −0.9 pp
1985 18.34 −0.2 pp
1984 18.55 −1.77 pp
1983 20.32 −2.68 pp
1982 23 −4.18 pp
1981 27.18 −0.18 pp
1980 27.36 +1.46 pp
1979 25.9 −3.38 pp
1978 29.28 +1.32 pp
1977 27.96 −1.46 pp
1976 29.42 −4.65 pp
1975 34.07 +1 pp
1974 33.07 +14.6 pp
1973 18.47 −2.29 pp
1972 20.76

Southern Asia, 2009

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.