Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Portugal

Government expense in Portugal in 2023 — 37.16%. Ranked 18 in the world out of 87. Since 1975, the indicator has risen by 13.44 pp.

2023 37.16% −2.15 pp vs 2022
World rank 18of 87
Period maximum 47.56%2014
Period minimum 23.72%1975

Trend over time

1975–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Portugal, 1975–202320304050197519801985199019952000200520102015202020231975: 23.72%1976: 25.93%1978: 26.16%1979: 25.98%1980: 27.37%1981: 29.58%1982: 29.08%1983: 30.8%1984: 29.51%1985: 33.58%1986: 33.66%1987: 30.13%1988: 29.79%1989: 31.15%1990: 32.32%1991: 34.73%1992: 35.88%1993: 37.24%1994: 34.97%1995: 37.16%1996: 37.02%1997: 35.87%1998: 37.13%1999: 36.94%2000: 37.19%2001: 38.06%2002: 38.42%2003: 39.75%2004: 40.35%2005: 41.3%2006: 39.97%2007: 39.16%2008: 40.2%2009: 43.28%2010: 44.15%2011: 44.48%2012: 44.36%2013: 45.58%2014: 47.56%2015: 44%2016: 41.32%2017: 41.67%2018: 39.28%2019: 38.67%2020: 44.53%2021: 42.45%2022: 39.31%2023: 37.16%
Change over the period: +13.44 pp Annual average: 0.28 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Portugal 37.16%
Southern Europe computed 41.59%
Government expense — Portugal, by year Portugal All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 37.16 −2.15 pp
2022 39.31 −3.14 pp
2021 42.45 −2.07 pp
2020 44.53 +5.86 pp
2019 38.67 −0.61 pp
2018 39.28 −2.39 pp
2017 41.67 +0.35 pp
2016 41.32 −2.68 pp
2015 44 −3.56 pp
2014 47.56 +1.98 pp
2013 45.58 +1.22 pp
2012 44.36 −0.11 pp
2011 44.48 +0.33 pp
2010 44.15 +0.87 pp
2009 43.28 +3.08 pp
2008 40.2 +1.04 pp
2007 39.16 −0.8 pp
2006 39.97 −1.34 pp
2005 41.3 +0.95 pp
2004 40.35 +0.6 pp
2003 39.75 +1.32 pp
2002 38.42 +0.37 pp
2001 38.06 +0.86 pp
2000 37.19 +0.25 pp
1999 36.94 −0.19 pp
1998 37.13 +1.26 pp
1997 35.87 −1.15 pp
1996 37.02 −0.14 pp
1995 37.16 +2.19 pp
1994 34.97 −2.27 pp
1993 37.24 +1.36 pp
1992 35.88 +1.15 pp
1991 34.73 +2.41 pp
1990 32.32 +1.17 pp
1989 31.15 +1.36 pp
1988 29.79 −0.34 pp
1987 30.13 −3.53 pp
1986 33.66 +0.09 pp
1985 33.58 +4.06 pp
1984 29.51 −1.29 pp
1983 30.8 +1.72 pp
1982 29.08 −0.5 pp
1981 29.58 +2.21 pp
1980 27.37 +1.39 pp
1979 25.98 −0.18 pp
1978 26.16
1976 25.93 +2.21 pp
1975 23.72

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.