Government expense — all countries

Government expense — NATO

Government expense in NATO in 2023 — 29.99%. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 1.82 pp.

2023 29.99% −0.25 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 36.4%2020
Period minimum 25.97%2000

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — NATO, 1990–2023253035401990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 28.17%1991: 30.05%1992: 30.51%1993: 30.19%1994: 29.59%1995: 31.73%1996: 30.14%1997: 28.67%1998: 27.76%1999: 27.06%2000: 25.97%2001: 26.77%2002: 27.55%2003: 28.66%2004: 28.55%2005: 28.56%2006: 28.23%2007: 28.5%2008: 30.04%2009: 32.71%2010: 32.63%2011: 31.68%2012: 31.14%2013: 30.44%2014: 30.05%2015: 29.08%2016: 28.85%2017: 28.59%2018: 28.57%2019: 28.5%2020: 36.4%2021: 35.06%2022: 30.24%2023: 29.99%
Change over the period: +1.82 pp Annual average: 0.06 pp
Government expense — NATO, by year NATO All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 29.99 −0.25 pp
2022 30.24 −4.83 pp
2021 35.06 −1.34 pp
2020 36.4 +7.9 pp
2019 28.5 −0.07 pp
2018 28.57 −0.03 pp
2017 28.59 −0.26 pp
2016 28.85 −0.23 pp
2015 29.08 −0.96 pp
2014 30.05 −0.4 pp
2013 30.44 −0.7 pp
2012 31.14 −0.54 pp
2011 31.68 −0.94 pp
2010 32.63 −0.09 pp
2009 32.71 +2.67 pp
2008 30.04 +1.54 pp
2007 28.5 +0.27 pp
2006 28.23 −0.32 pp
2005 28.56 +0.01 pp
2004 28.55 −0.11 pp
2003 28.66 +1.11 pp
2002 27.55 +0.78 pp
2001 26.77 +0.8 pp
2000 25.97 −1.09 pp
1999 27.06 −0.71 pp
1998 27.76 −0.91 pp
1997 28.67 −1.48 pp
1996 30.14 −1.59 pp
1995 31.73 +2.14 pp
1994 29.59 −0.6 pp
1993 30.19 −0.32 pp
1992 30.51 +0.46 pp
1991 30.05 +1.88 pp
1990 28.17

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.