Government expense — all countries

Government expense — South Asia

Government expense in South Asia in 2022 — 13.8%. Since 1974, the indicator has risen by 5.07 pp.

2022 13.8% +2.71 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 16.68%2008
Period minimum 8.73%1974

Trend over time

1974–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — South Asia, 1974–202281012141618197419791984198919941999200420092014201920221974: 8.73%1975: 10.11%1976: 10.63%1977: 10.51%1978: 11.27%1979: 12.31%1980: 11.7%1981: 11.38%1982: 11.96%1983: 12.08%1984: 13.15%1985: 14.39%1986: 15.34%1987: 15.77%1988: 15.53%1989: 15.98%1990: 15.82%1991: 15.71%1992: 15.44%1993: 15.43%1994: 14.96%1995: 14.68%1996: 14.49%1997: 14.91%1998: 14.69%1999: 15.05%2000: 15.7%2001: 15.21%2002: 15.63%2003: 15.12%2004: 14.72%2005: 14.8%2006: 14.86%2007: 14.9%2008: 16.68%2009: 16.45%2010: 15.93%2011: 14.17%2012: 15.59%2013: 15.95%2014: 14.36%2015: 14.71%2016: 14.7%2017: 14.99%2018: 15.06%2019: 10.89%2020: 11.09%2022: 13.8%
Change over the period: +5.07 pp Annual average: 0.11 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

South Asia 13.8%
World 28.49%
Government expense — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 13.8
2020 11.09 +0.2 pp
2019 10.89 −4.17 pp
2018 15.06 +0.07 pp
2017 14.99 +0.29 pp
2016 14.7 −0.01 pp
2015 14.71 +0.34 pp
2014 14.36 −1.58 pp
2013 15.95 +0.36 pp
2012 15.59 +1.42 pp
2011 14.17 −1.76 pp
2010 15.93 −0.52 pp
2009 16.45 −0.23 pp
2008 16.68 +1.78 pp
2007 14.9 +0.05 pp
2006 14.86 +0.06 pp
2005 14.8 +0.08 pp
2004 14.72 −0.41 pp
2003 15.12 −0.51 pp
2002 15.63 +0.42 pp
2001 15.21 −0.5 pp
2000 15.7 +0.65 pp
1999 15.05 +0.37 pp
1998 14.69 −0.22 pp
1997 14.91 +0.42 pp
1996 14.49 −0.19 pp
1995 14.68 −0.28 pp
1994 14.96 −0.47 pp
1993 15.43 −0.02 pp
1992 15.44 −0.27 pp
1991 15.71 −0.11 pp
1990 15.82 −0.15 pp
1989 15.98 +0.45 pp
1988 15.53 −0.24 pp
1987 15.77 +0.43 pp
1986 15.34 +0.96 pp
1985 14.39 +1.24 pp
1984 13.15 +1.07 pp
1983 12.08 +0.12 pp
1982 11.96 +0.59 pp
1981 11.38 −0.33 pp
1980 11.7 −0.61 pp
1979 12.31 +1.04 pp
1978 11.27 +0.76 pp
1977 10.51 −0.12 pp
1976 10.63 +0.52 pp
1975 10.11 +1.38 pp
1974 8.73

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.