Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Kuwait

Government expense in Kuwait in 2006 — 34.55%. Ranked 21 in the world out of 109. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 13.86 pp.

2006 34.55% +6.04 pp vs 2005
World rank 21of 109
Period maximum 210.21%1991
Period minimum 16.33%1979

Trend over time

1972–2006 · % of GDP

Government expense — Kuwait, 1972–2006010020030019721976198019841988199219962000200420061972: 20.7%1973: 22.94%1974: 19.41%1977: 24.41%1978: 24.51%1979: 16.33%1980: 18.86%1981: 24.28%1982: 30.83%1983: 35.52%1984: 31.78%1985: 33.46%1986: 38.61%1987: 30.58%1988: 39.54%1989: 34.75%1990: 48.05%1991: 210.21%1992: 92.25%1993: 55.16%1994: 52.17%1995: 46.41%1996: 41.77%1997: 38.18%1998: 46.51%2001: 43.5%2002: 41.42%2003: 37.79%2004: 35.27%2005: 28.51%2006: 34.55%
Change over the period: +13.86 pp Annual average: 0.41 pp

Comparison, 2006

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

Kuwait 34.55%
World 24.86%
Government expense — Kuwait, by year Kuwait All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2006 34.55 +6.04 pp
2005 28.51 −6.76 pp
2004 35.27 −2.51 pp
2003 37.79 −3.63 pp
2002 41.42 −2.09 pp
2001 43.5
1998 46.51 +8.33 pp
1997 38.18 −3.6 pp
1996 41.77 −4.64 pp
1995 46.41 −5.75 pp
1994 52.17 −2.99 pp
1993 55.16 −37.09 pp
1992 92.25 −117.95 pp
1991 210.21 +162.16 pp
1990 48.05 +13.3 pp
1989 34.75 −4.8 pp
1988 39.54 +8.97 pp
1987 30.58 −8.04 pp
1986 38.61 +5.16 pp
1985 33.46 +1.67 pp
1984 31.78 −3.74 pp
1983 35.52 +4.7 pp
1982 30.83 +6.55 pp
1981 24.28 +5.42 pp
1980 18.86 +2.53 pp
1979 16.33 −8.17 pp
1978 24.51 +0.09 pp
1977 24.41
1974 19.41 −3.53 pp
1973 22.94 +2.24 pp
1972 20.7

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.