Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Netherlands

Government expense in the Netherlands in 2023 — 39.97%. Ranked 12 in the world out of 87. Since 1973, the indicator has risen by 5.09 pp.

2023 39.97% +0.6 pp vs 2022
World rank 12of 87
Period maximum 50.16%1983
Period minimum 34.88%1973

Trend over time

1973–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Netherlands, 1973–2023303540455055197319781983198819931998200320082013201820231973: 34.88%1974: 35.8%1975: 40.69%1976: 40.93%1977: 42.29%1978: 43.31%1979: 44.65%1980: 45.48%1981: 46.72%1982: 49.39%1983: 50.16%1984: 49.2%1985: 48.5%1986: 48.69%1987: 49.93%1988: 47.83%1989: 46.16%1990: 45.33%1991: 45.66%1992: 46.14%1993: 46.42%1994: 45.43%1995: 48.62%1996: 42.04%1997: 41.09%1998: 39.62%1999: 38.34%2000: 37.38%2001: 38.06%2002: 38.3%2003: 39.23%2004: 38.48%2005: 37.52%2006: 38.33%2007: 37.74%2008: 38.41%2009: 42.18%2010: 42.5%2011: 41.89%2012: 42.14%2013: 42.44%2014: 41.95%2015: 40.61%2016: 39.44%2017: 38.29%2018: 37.99%2019: 37.5%2020: 43.02%2021: 41.8%2022: 39.37%2023: 39.97%
Change over the period: +5.09 pp Annual average: 0.1 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Netherlands 39.97%
Western Europe computed 40.57%
Government expense — Netherlands, by year Netherlands All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 39.97 +0.6 pp
2022 39.37 −2.43 pp
2021 41.8 −1.23 pp
2020 43.02 +5.53 pp
2019 37.5 −0.49 pp
2018 37.99 −0.3 pp
2017 38.29 −1.16 pp
2016 39.44 −1.17 pp
2015 40.61 −1.33 pp
2014 41.95 −0.5 pp
2013 42.44 +0.31 pp
2012 42.14 +0.25 pp
2011 41.89 −0.61 pp
2010 42.5 +0.31 pp
2009 42.18 +3.77 pp
2008 38.41 +0.67 pp
2007 37.74 −0.59 pp
2006 38.33 +0.8 pp
2005 37.52 −0.96 pp
2004 38.48 −0.75 pp
2003 39.23 +0.94 pp
2002 38.3 +0.23 pp
2001 38.06 +0.69 pp
2000 37.38 −0.96 pp
1999 38.34 −1.28 pp
1998 39.62 −1.47 pp
1997 41.09 −0.95 pp
1996 42.04 −6.58 pp
1995 48.62 +3.19 pp
1994 45.43 −0.99 pp
1993 46.42 +0.28 pp
1992 46.14 +0.48 pp
1991 45.66 +0.34 pp
1990 45.33 −0.83 pp
1989 46.16 −1.67 pp
1988 47.83 −2.11 pp
1987 49.93 +1.24 pp
1986 48.69 +0.19 pp
1985 48.5 −0.7 pp
1984 49.2 −0.96 pp
1983 50.16 +0.77 pp
1982 49.39 +2.67 pp
1981 46.72 +1.24 pp
1980 45.48 +0.83 pp
1979 44.65 +1.34 pp
1978 43.31 +1.02 pp
1977 42.29 +1.36 pp
1976 40.93 +0.24 pp
1975 40.69 +4.9 pp
1974 35.8 +0.92 pp
1973 34.88

Western Europe, 2023

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.