Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Spain

Government expense in Spain in 2023 — 34.04%. Ranked 27 in the world out of 87. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 18.04 pp.

2023 34.04% −1.29 pp vs 2022
World rank 27of 87
Period maximum 40.37%2020
Period minimum 16.01%1972

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Spain, 1972–2023102030405019721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 16.01%1973: 16.2%1974: 16.41%1975: 17.3%1976: 17.6%1977: 19.2%1978: 20.97%1979: 22.54%1980: 23.11%1981: 23.48%1982: 26.3%1983: 26.95%1984: 27.64%1985: 29.64%1986: 29.55%1987: 29.59%1988: 29.12%1989: 29.42%1990: 29.35%1991: 30.18%1992: 31.73%1993: 34.66%1994: 33.79%2004: 28.88%2005: 27.28%2006: 27.19%2007: 27.41%2008: 28.6%2009: 32.41%2010: 31.47%2011: 31.19%2012: 38.03%2013: 35.34%2014: 34.53%2015: 32.66%2016: 32.43%2017: 31.36%2018: 31.73%2019: 32.11%2020: 40.37%2021: 38.36%2022: 35.34%2023: 34.04%
Change over the period: +18.04 pp Annual average: 0.35 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Spain 34.04%
Southern Europe computed 41.59%
Government expense — Spain, by year Spain All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 34.04 −1.29 pp
2022 35.34 −3.02 pp
2021 38.36 −2.01 pp
2020 40.37 +8.25 pp
2019 32.11 +0.39 pp
2018 31.73 +0.36 pp
2017 31.36 −1.07 pp
2016 32.43 −0.22 pp
2015 32.66 −1.87 pp
2014 34.53 −0.81 pp
2013 35.34 −2.69 pp
2012 38.03 +6.84 pp
2011 31.19 −0.27 pp
2010 31.47 −0.94 pp
2009 32.41 +3.8 pp
2008 28.6 +1.19 pp
2007 27.41 +0.22 pp
2006 27.19 −0.09 pp
2005 27.28 −1.6 pp
2004 28.88
1994 33.79 −0.87 pp
1993 34.66 +2.92 pp
1992 31.73 +1.56 pp
1991 30.18 +0.82 pp
1990 29.35 −0.07 pp
1989 29.42 +0.3 pp
1988 29.12 −0.47 pp
1987 29.59 +0.04 pp
1986 29.55 −0.1 pp
1985 29.64 +2.01 pp
1984 27.64 +0.69 pp
1983 26.95 +0.65 pp
1982 26.3 +2.82 pp
1981 23.48 +0.37 pp
1980 23.11 +0.56 pp
1979 22.54 +1.58 pp
1978 20.97 +1.77 pp
1977 19.2 +1.59 pp
1976 17.6 +0.3 pp
1975 17.3 +0.89 pp
1974 16.41 +0.2 pp
1973 16.2 +0.2 pp
1972 16.01

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.