Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Italy

Government expense in Italy in 2023 — 47.28%. Ranked 4 in the world out of 87. Since 1973, the indicator has risen by 20.72 pp.

2023 47.28% −1.09 pp vs 2022
World rank 4of 87
Period maximum 50.34%2020
Period minimum 26.52%1974

Trend over time

1973–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Italy, 1973–20232030405060197319781983198819931998200320082013201820231973: 26.56%1974: 26.52%1975: 30.96%1976: 29.94%1977: 30.09%1978: 33.81%1979: 35.65%1980: 38.48%1986: 46.04%1987: 46.88%1988: 42.32%1989: 43.21%1990: 43.14%1991: 43.98%1992: 46.97%1993: 48.02%1994: 45.77%1995: 48.05%1996: 47.31%1997: 44.96%1998: 41.11%1999: 40.91%2000: 39.38%2001: 39.86%2002: 39.34%2003: 39.51%2004: 38.71%2005: 39.04%2006: 39.6%2007: 39.07%2008: 40.56%2009: 44.04%2010: 42.69%2011: 41.83%2012: 43.5%2013: 43.75%2014: 43.57%2015: 43.53%2016: 43.2%2017: 42.95%2018: 42.5%2019: 42.29%2020: 50.34%2021: 49.65%2022: 48.37%2023: 47.28%
Change over the period: +20.72 pp Annual average: 0.41 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Italy 47.28%
Southern Europe computed 41.59%
Government expense — Italy, by year Italy All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 47.28 −1.09 pp
2022 48.37 −1.28 pp
2021 49.65 −0.69 pp
2020 50.34 +8.05 pp
2019 42.29 −0.21 pp
2018 42.5 −0.44 pp
2017 42.95 −0.25 pp
2016 43.2 −0.33 pp
2015 43.53 −0.04 pp
2014 43.57 −0.18 pp
2013 43.75 +0.25 pp
2012 43.5 +1.67 pp
2011 41.83 −0.86 pp
2010 42.69 −1.34 pp
2009 44.04 +3.48 pp
2008 40.56 +1.48 pp
2007 39.07 −0.53 pp
2006 39.6 +0.56 pp
2005 39.04 +0.33 pp
2004 38.71 −0.8 pp
2003 39.51 +0.17 pp
2002 39.34 −0.52 pp
2001 39.86 +0.49 pp
2000 39.38 −1.53 pp
1999 40.91 −0.2 pp
1998 41.11 −3.85 pp
1997 44.96 −2.35 pp
1996 47.31 −0.73 pp
1995 48.05 +2.27 pp
1994 45.77 −2.25 pp
1993 48.02 +1.05 pp
1992 46.97 +2.99 pp
1991 43.98 +0.84 pp
1990 43.14 −0.07 pp
1989 43.21 +0.89 pp
1988 42.32 −4.56 pp
1987 46.88 +0.84 pp
1986 46.04
1980 38.48 +2.83 pp
1979 35.65 +1.84 pp
1978 33.81 +3.72 pp
1977 30.09 +0.15 pp
1976 29.94 −1.02 pp
1975 30.96 +4.44 pp
1974 26.52 −0.04 pp
1973 26.56

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.