Government expense — all countries

Government expense — New Zealand

Government expense in New Zealand in 2022 — 35.5%. Ranked 30 in the world out of 111. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 9.58 pp.

2022 35.5% +1.86 pp vs 2021
World rank 30of 111
Period maximum 41.08%1987
Period minimum 25.91%1972

Trend over time

1972–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — New Zealand, 1972–20222530354045197219771982198719921997200220072012201720221972: 25.91%1973: 26.06%1974: 27.67%1975: 31.42%1976: 28.5%1977: 31.39%1978: 34.16%1979: 33.84%1980: 34.95%1981: 36.22%1982: 37.27%1983: 36.58%1984: 37.17%1985: 36.14%1986: 37.47%1987: 41.08%1988: 39.19%2001: 31.55%2002: 30.73%2003: 31.22%2004: 30.44%2005: 30.99%2006: 31.39%2007: 31.31%2008: 32.56%2009: 34.05%2010: 34.15%2011: 40.05%2012: 34.97%2013: 33.09%2014: 32.34%2015: 31.53%2016: 30.71%2017: 29.92%2018: 29.72%2019: 30.05%2020: 36.3%2021: 33.64%2022: 35.5%
Change over the period: +9.58 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

New Zealand 35.5%
World 28.49%
Australia and New Zealand computed 28.6%
Government expense — New Zealand, by year New Zealand All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 35.5 +1.86 pp
2021 33.64 −2.66 pp
2020 36.3 +6.24 pp
2019 30.05 +0.33 pp
2018 29.72 −0.2 pp
2017 29.92 −0.79 pp
2016 30.71 −0.81 pp
2015 31.53 −0.81 pp
2014 32.34 −0.75 pp
2013 33.09 −1.89 pp
2012 34.97 −5.08 pp
2011 40.05 +5.9 pp
2010 34.15 +0.09 pp
2009 34.05 +1.49 pp
2008 32.56 +1.25 pp
2007 31.31 −0.07 pp
2006 31.39 +0.4 pp
2005 30.99 +0.55 pp
2004 30.44 −0.78 pp
2003 31.22 +0.49 pp
2002 30.73 −0.83 pp
2001 31.55
1988 39.19 −1.9 pp
1987 41.08 +3.61 pp
1986 37.47 +1.33 pp
1985 36.14 −1.03 pp
1984 37.17 +0.58 pp
1983 36.58 −0.68 pp
1982 37.27 +1.04 pp
1981 36.22 +1.27 pp
1980 34.95 +1.11 pp
1979 33.84 −0.32 pp
1978 34.16 +2.77 pp
1977 31.39 +2.89 pp
1976 28.5 −2.92 pp
1975 31.42 +3.75 pp
1974 27.67 +1.6 pp
1973 26.06 +0.15 pp
1972 25.91

Australia and New Zealand, 2022

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

NZ New Zealand 35.5 AU Australia 27.58

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.