Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Latin America & Caribbean

Government expense in Latin America & Caribbean in 2023 — 27.57%. Since 2010, the indicator has risen by 3.35 pp.

2023 27.57% +0.33 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 29.32%2020
Period minimum 24.23%2010

Trend over time

2010–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Latin America & Caribbean, 2010–202324262830201020122014201620182020202220232010: 24.23%2011: 24.45%2012: 24.42%2013: 25.21%2014: 25.44%2015: 27.2%2016: 27.17%2017: 26.3%2018: 26.32%2019: 26.02%2020: 29.32%2021: 26.44%2022: 27.24%2023: 27.57%
Change over the period: +3.35 pp Annual average: 0.26 pp
Government expense — Latin America & Caribbean, by year Latin America & Caribbean All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 27.57 +0.33 pp
2022 27.24 +0.81 pp
2021 26.44 −2.88 pp
2020 29.32 +3.3 pp
2019 26.02 −0.3 pp
2018 26.32 +0.02 pp
2017 26.3 −0.88 pp
2016 27.17 −0.03 pp
2015 27.2 +1.76 pp
2014 25.44 +0.23 pp
2013 25.21 +0.79 pp
2012 24.42 −0.03 pp
2011 24.45 +0.23 pp
2010 24.23

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.