Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Australia and New Zealand

Government expense in Australia and New Zealand in 2022 — 28.6%. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 9.34 pp.

2022 28.6% −4.1 pp vs 2021
World rank
Period maximum 32.7%2021
Period minimum 19.26%1972

Trend over time

1972–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Australia and New Zealand, 1972–20221520253035197219771982198719921997200220072012201720221972: 19.26%1973: 19.71%1974: 19.41%1975: 22.43%1976: 24.17%1977: 24.54%1978: 25.78%1979: 25.02%1980: 24.89%1981: 25.06%1982: 24.81%1983: 26.87%1984: 27.52%1985: 27.56%1986: 27.73%1987: 28.37%1988: 26.58%2001: 26.8%2002: 26.95%2003: 26.54%2004: 26.27%2005: 26.29%2006: 25.7%2007: 25.36%2008: 25.2%2009: 27.27%2010: 27.47%2011: 27.43%2012: 26.94%2013: 26.56%2014: 26.89%2015: 27.22%2016: 27.4%2017: 26.98%2018: 26.59%2019: 26.6%2020: 30.99%2021: 32.7%2022: 28.6%
Change over the period: +9.34 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand 28.6%
World 28.49%
Government expense — Australia and New Zealand, by year Australia and New Zealand All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 28.6 −4.1 pp
2021 32.7 +1.71 pp
2020 30.99 +4.39 pp
2019 26.6 +0 pp
2018 26.59 −0.39 pp
2017 26.98 −0.41 pp
2016 27.4 +0.17 pp
2015 27.22 +0.33 pp
2014 26.89 +0.33 pp
2013 26.56 −0.39 pp
2012 26.94 −0.49 pp
2011 27.43 −0.04 pp
2010 27.47 +0.2 pp
2009 27.27 +2.07 pp
2008 25.2 −0.16 pp
2007 25.36 −0.35 pp
2006 25.7 −0.59 pp
2005 26.29 +0.02 pp
2004 26.27 −0.27 pp
2003 26.54 −0.41 pp
2002 26.95 +0.15 pp
2001 26.8
1988 26.58 −1.79 pp
1987 28.37 +0.64 pp
1986 27.73 +0.16 pp
1985 27.56 +0.04 pp
1984 27.52 +0.65 pp
1983 26.87 +2.06 pp
1982 24.81 −0.26 pp
1981 25.06 +0.18 pp
1980 24.89 −0.13 pp
1979 25.02 −0.76 pp
1978 25.78 +1.23 pp
1977 24.54 +0.37 pp
1976 24.17 +1.74 pp
1975 22.43 +3.02 pp
1974 19.41 −0.3 pp
1973 19.71 +0.45 pp
1972 19.26

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.