Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Japan

Government expense in Japan in 2022 — 20.06%. Ranked 83 in the world out of 111. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 9.5 pp.

2022 20.06% −0.79 pp vs 2021
World rank 83of 111
Period maximum 22.99%2020
Period minimum 10.55%1972

Trend over time

1972–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Japan, 1972–202210152025197219771982198719921997200220072012201720221972: 10.55%1973: 10.68%1974: 11.96%1975: 12.54%1976: 13.16%1977: 13.77%1978: 14.72%1979: 15.4%1980: 15.86%1981: 16.05%1982: 16.01%1983: 16%1984: 15.47%1985: 15.11%1986: 14.8%1987: 14.43%1988: 14.02%1989: 14.45%1990: 13.56%1994: 14.72%1995: 14.77%1996: 14.66%1997: 14.16%1998: 19.86%1999: 17.12%2000: 16.86%2001: 16%2002: 15.87%2003: 15.54%2004: 14.93%2005: 14.92%2006: 14.7%2007: 13.87%2008: 15.11%2009: 18.05%2010: 17.07%2011: 18.46%2012: 17.94%2013: 17.93%2014: 17.26%2015: 16.64%2016: 16.36%2017: 15.85%2018: 15.72%2019: 16.02%2020: 22.99%2021: 20.85%2022: 20.06%
Change over the period: +9.5 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

Japan 20.06%
World 28.49%
Government expense — Japan, by year Japan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 20.06 −0.79 pp
2021 20.85 −2.15 pp
2020 22.99 +6.97 pp
2019 16.02 +0.31 pp
2018 15.72 −0.13 pp
2017 15.85 −0.51 pp
2016 16.36 −0.28 pp
2015 16.64 −0.62 pp
2014 17.26 −0.67 pp
2013 17.93 −0 pp
2012 17.94 −0.52 pp
2011 18.46 +1.39 pp
2010 17.07 −0.98 pp
2009 18.05 +2.94 pp
2008 15.11 +1.24 pp
2007 13.87 −0.83 pp
2006 14.7 −0.22 pp
2005 14.92 −0.01 pp
2004 14.93 −0.62 pp
2003 15.54 −0.32 pp
2002 15.87 −0.13 pp
2001 16 −0.86 pp
2000 16.86 −0.26 pp
1999 17.12 −2.75 pp
1998 19.86 +5.71 pp
1997 14.16 −0.5 pp
1996 14.66 −0.12 pp
1995 14.77 +0.06 pp
1994 14.72
1990 13.56 −0.89 pp
1989 14.45 +0.42 pp
1988 14.02 −0.41 pp
1987 14.43 −0.37 pp
1986 14.8 −0.31 pp
1985 15.11 −0.37 pp
1984 15.47 −0.52 pp
1983 16 −0.01 pp
1982 16.01 −0.04 pp
1981 16.05 +0.19 pp
1980 15.86 +0.46 pp
1979 15.4 +0.68 pp
1978 14.72 +0.96 pp
1977 13.77 +0.61 pp
1976 13.16 +0.62 pp
1975 12.54 +0.58 pp
1974 11.96 +1.28 pp
1973 10.68 +0.12 pp
1972 10.55

Eastern Asia, 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.