Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Southern Asia

Government expense in Southern Asia in 2018 — 14.88%. Since 1997, the indicator has fallen by 0.7 pp.

2018 14.88% −0.13 pp vs 2017
World rank
Period maximum 17.37%2009
Period minimum 14.63%2011

Trend over time

1997–2018 · % of GDP

Government expense — Southern Asia, 1997–20181415161718199720002003200620092012201520181997: 15.59%1998: 15.78%1999: 15.68%2000: 15.25%2001: 15.51%2002: 15.85%2003: 15.43%2004: 15.04%2005: 15.71%2006: 16.11%2007: 15.43%2008: 17.31%2009: 17.37%2010: 16.35%2011: 14.63%2012: 15.94%2013: 16.25%2014: 14.66%2015: 14.89%2016: 14.76%2017: 15.01%2018: 14.88%
Change over the period: −0.7 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2018

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

Southern Asia 14.88%
World 26.14%
Government expense — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2018 14.88 −0.13 pp
2017 15.01 +0.26 pp
2016 14.76 −0.13 pp
2015 14.89 +0.23 pp
2014 14.66 −1.59 pp
2013 16.25 +0.31 pp
2012 15.94 +1.3 pp
2011 14.63 −1.72 pp
2010 16.35 −1.01 pp
2009 17.37 +0.06 pp
2008 17.31 +1.88 pp
2007 15.43 −0.68 pp
2006 16.11 +0.4 pp
2005 15.71 +0.67 pp
2004 15.04 −0.38 pp
2003 15.43 −0.42 pp
2002 15.85 +0.34 pp
2001 15.51 +0.25 pp
2000 15.25 −0.43 pp
1999 15.68 −0.09 pp
1998 15.78 +0.19 pp
1997 15.59

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.