Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Sweden

Government expense in Sweden in 2022 — 32.51%. Ranked 40 in the world out of 111. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 9.46 pp.

2022 32.51% −0.69 pp vs 2021
World rank 40of 111
Period maximum 44.28%1993
Period minimum 22.98%1973

Trend over time

1972–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Sweden, 1972–202220304050197219771982198719921997200220072012201720221972: 23.04%1973: 22.98%1974: 24.2%1975: 24.56%1976: 26.68%1977: 29.75%1978: 31.92%1979: 33.52%1980: 33.73%1981: 36.49%1982: 37.15%1983: 38.95%1984: 37.74%1985: 38.86%1986: 37.37%1987: 35.79%1988: 34.58%1989: 34.04%1990: 35.22%1991: 36.68%1992: 39.77%1993: 44.28%1994: 42.01%1995: 42.63%1996: 40.09%1997: 38.3%1998: 37.46%1999: 36.39%2000: 34.53%2001: 33.23%2002: 33.56%2003: 33.73%2004: 32.76%2005: 33.14%2006: 32.02%2007: 31.26%2008: 31.74%2009: 33.94%2010: 33.26%2011: 32.44%2012: 33.01%2013: 33.72%2014: 33.26%2015: 32.36%2016: 32.11%2017: 31.98%2018: 32.04%2019: 31.41%2020: 34.94%2021: 33.2%2022: 32.51%
Change over the period: +9.46 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

Sweden 32.51%
World 28.49%
Northern Europe computed 35.59%
Government expense — Sweden, by year Sweden All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 32.51 −0.69 pp
2021 33.2 −1.74 pp
2020 34.94 +3.53 pp
2019 31.41 −0.63 pp
2018 32.04 +0.06 pp
2017 31.98 −0.13 pp
2016 32.11 −0.25 pp
2015 32.36 −0.9 pp
2014 33.26 −0.47 pp
2013 33.72 +0.71 pp
2012 33.01 +0.57 pp
2011 32.44 −0.83 pp
2010 33.26 −0.68 pp
2009 33.94 +2.2 pp
2008 31.74 +0.48 pp
2007 31.26 −0.76 pp
2006 32.02 −1.12 pp
2005 33.14 +0.38 pp
2004 32.76 −0.97 pp
2003 33.73 +0.17 pp
2002 33.56 +0.34 pp
2001 33.23 −1.3 pp
2000 34.53 −1.86 pp
1999 36.39 −1.07 pp
1998 37.46 −0.84 pp
1997 38.3 −1.79 pp
1996 40.09 −2.53 pp
1995 42.63 +0.62 pp
1994 42.01 −2.27 pp
1993 44.28 +4.52 pp
1992 39.77 +3.08 pp
1991 36.68 +1.46 pp
1990 35.22 +1.19 pp
1989 34.04 −0.55 pp
1988 34.58 −1.21 pp
1987 35.79 −1.58 pp
1986 37.37 −1.49 pp
1985 38.86 +1.12 pp
1984 37.74 −1.21 pp
1983 38.95 +1.79 pp
1982 37.15 +0.67 pp
1981 36.49 +2.76 pp
1980 33.73 +0.21 pp
1979 33.52 +1.6 pp
1978 31.92 +2.17 pp
1977 29.75 +3.07 pp
1976 26.68 +2.13 pp
1975 24.56 +0.36 pp
1974 24.2 +1.22 pp
1973 22.98 −0.06 pp
1972 23.04

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.