Government expense — all countries

Government expense — North America

Government expense in North America in 2023 — 23.97%. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 6.18 pp.

2023 23.97% −0.09 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 31.52%2020
Period minimum 17.8%1972

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — North America, 1972–2023152025303519721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 17.8%1973: 17.9%1974: 17.88%1975: 19.47%1976: 19.73%1977: 19.6%1978: 19.12%1979: 18.92%1980: 20.54%1981: 21%1982: 22.46%1983: 22.8%1984: 21.47%1985: 22.17%1986: 22.23%1987: 21.37%1988: 21.03%1989: 20.86%1990: 21.78%1991: 23.1%1992: 22.14%1993: 21.73%1994: 20.99%1995: 20.78%1996: 20.21%1997: 19.47%1998: 18.85%1999: 18.25%2000: 18%2001: 19.44%2002: 19.9%2003: 20.44%2004: 20.18%2005: 20.5%2006: 20.29%2007: 20.53%2008: 22.3%2009: 25%2010: 25.46%2011: 24.71%2012: 23.37%2013: 22.39%2014: 22.08%2015: 21.92%2016: 22%2017: 21.75%2018: 21.77%2019: 22.14%2020: 31.52%2021: 30.5%2022: 24.06%2023: 23.97%
Change over the period: +6.18 pp Annual average: 0.12 pp
Government expense — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 23.97 −0.09 pp
2022 24.06 −6.44 pp
2021 30.5 −1.02 pp
2020 31.52 +9.38 pp
2019 22.14 +0.36 pp
2018 21.77 +0.02 pp
2017 21.75 −0.24 pp
2016 22 +0.08 pp
2015 21.92 −0.16 pp
2014 22.08 −0.31 pp
2013 22.39 −0.98 pp
2012 23.37 −1.34 pp
2011 24.71 −0.75 pp
2010 25.46 +0.46 pp
2009 25 +2.7 pp
2008 22.3 +1.77 pp
2007 20.53 +0.24 pp
2006 20.29 −0.21 pp
2005 20.5 +0.32 pp
2004 20.18 −0.26 pp
2003 20.44 +0.53 pp
2002 19.9 +0.46 pp
2001 19.44 +1.44 pp
2000 18 −0.25 pp
1999 18.25 −0.6 pp
1998 18.85 −0.63 pp
1997 19.47 −0.73 pp
1996 20.21 −0.58 pp
1995 20.78 −0.21 pp
1994 20.99 −0.75 pp
1993 21.73 −0.4 pp
1992 22.14 −0.96 pp
1991 23.1 +1.32 pp
1990 21.78 +0.91 pp
1989 20.86 −0.17 pp
1988 21.03 −0.34 pp
1987 21.37 −0.86 pp
1986 22.23 +0.06 pp
1985 22.17 +0.7 pp
1984 21.47 −1.33 pp
1983 22.8 +0.34 pp
1982 22.46 +1.46 pp
1981 21 +0.46 pp
1980 20.54 +1.62 pp
1979 18.92 −0.2 pp
1978 19.12 −0.48 pp
1977 19.6 −0.13 pp
1976 19.73 +0.26 pp
1975 19.47 +1.59 pp
1974 17.88 −0.01 pp
1973 17.9 +0.1 pp
1972 17.8

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.