Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Western Asia

Government expense in Western Asia in 2021 — 25.8%. Since 2010, the indicator has fallen by 4.05 pp.

2021 25.8% −4.05 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 29.85%2020
Period minimum 24.21%2011

Trend over time

2010–2021 · % of GDP

Government expense — Western Asia, 2010–20212426283020102012201420162018202020212010: 29.85%2011: 24.21%2012: 24.74%2013: 24.58%2014: 25.3%2015: 25.95%2016: 25.75%2017: 25.78%2018: 25.97%2019: 26.73%2020: 29.85%2021: 25.8%
Change over the period: −4.05 pp Annual average: -0.37 pp

Comparison, 2021

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

Western Asia 25.8%
World 31.74%
Government expense — Western Asia, by year Western Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2021 25.8 −4.05 pp
2020 29.85 +3.13 pp
2019 26.73 +0.75 pp
2018 25.97 +0.2 pp
2017 25.78 +0.02 pp
2016 25.75 −0.2 pp
2015 25.95 +0.65 pp
2014 25.3 +0.72 pp
2013 24.58 −0.15 pp
2012 24.74 +0.52 pp
2011 24.21 −5.63 pp
2010 29.85

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.