Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Singapore

Government expense in Singapore in 2023 — 17.11%. Ranked 72 in the world out of 87. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 2.11 pp.

2023 17.11% +2.44 pp vs 2022
World rank 72of 87
Period maximum 27%1987
Period minimum 10.92%1994

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Singapore, 1972–2023101520253019721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 15%1973: 13.84%1974: 13.21%1975: 15.19%1976: 15.49%1977: 16.41%1978: 15.36%1979: 15.42%1980: 15.32%1981: 17.85%1982: 16.18%1983: 16.51%1984: 18.79%1985: 17.95%1986: 22.66%1987: 27%1988: 18.98%1989: 17.55%1990: 17.07%1991: 17.88%1992: 16.54%1993: 14.58%1994: 10.92%1995: 11.93%1996: 16.16%1997: 13.63%1998: 15.72%1999: 14.77%2000: 15.72%2001: 18.17%2002: 16.15%2003: 15.94%2004: 14.39%2005: 12.59%2006: 13.06%2007: 12.15%2008: 14.5%2009: 14.3%2010: 12.41%2011: 12.77%2012: 12.38%2013: 12.38%2014: 13.15%2015: 15.93%2016: 14.37%2017: 14.24%2018: 14.65%2019: 14.15%2020: 25.59%2021: 16.12%2022: 14.67%2023: 17.11%
Change over the period: +2.11 pp Annual average: 0.04 pp
Government expense — Singapore, by year Singapore All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 17.11 +2.44 pp
2022 14.67 −1.44 pp
2021 16.12 −9.48 pp
2020 25.59 +11.45 pp
2019 14.15 −0.5 pp
2018 14.65 +0.41 pp
2017 14.24 −0.12 pp
2016 14.37 −1.56 pp
2015 15.93 +2.77 pp
2014 13.15 +0.78 pp
2013 12.38 −0.01 pp
2012 12.38 −0.39 pp
2011 12.77 +0.36 pp
2010 12.41 −1.89 pp
2009 14.3 −0.2 pp
2008 14.5 +2.36 pp
2007 12.15 −0.91 pp
2006 13.06 +0.46 pp
2005 12.59 −1.8 pp
2004 14.39 −1.55 pp
2003 15.94 −0.21 pp
2002 16.15 −2.02 pp
2001 18.17 +2.45 pp
2000 15.72 +0.94 pp
1999 14.77 −0.95 pp
1998 15.72 +2.09 pp
1997 13.63 −2.53 pp
1996 16.16 +4.24 pp
1995 11.93 +1.01 pp
1994 10.92 −3.66 pp
1993 14.58 −1.97 pp
1992 16.54 −1.34 pp
1991 17.88 +0.81 pp
1990 17.07 −0.49 pp
1989 17.55 −1.42 pp
1988 18.98 −8.03 pp
1987 27 +4.35 pp
1986 22.66 +4.7 pp
1985 17.95 −0.83 pp
1984 18.79 +2.28 pp
1983 16.51 +0.33 pp
1982 16.18 −1.68 pp
1981 17.85 +2.53 pp
1980 15.32 −0.09 pp
1979 15.42 +0.06 pp
1978 15.36 −1.06 pp
1977 16.41 +0.92 pp
1976 15.49 +0.3 pp
1975 15.19 +1.98 pp
1974 13.21 −0.63 pp
1973 13.84 −1.15 pp
1972 15

South-Eastern Asia, 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.