Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Switzerland

Government expense in Switzerland in 2023 — 16.11%. Ranked 78 in the world out of 87. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 5.18 pp.

2023 16.11% +0.22 pp vs 2022
World rank 78of 87
Period maximum 19.67%2020
Period minimum 10.94%1972

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Switzerland, 1972–20231012.51517.52019721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 10.94%1973: 12.2%1974: 12.83%1975: 14.93%1976: 16.74%1977: 16.98%1978: 16.69%1979: 16.79%1980: 16.41%1981: 15.76%1982: 16.48%1983: 16.89%1984: 16.98%1990: 13.83%1991: 14.86%1992: 16.15%1993: 17.32%1994: 17.42%1995: 17.36%1996: 18.03%1997: 18.28%1998: 18.31%1999: 18.95%2000: 18.31%2001: 17.3%2002: 19.19%2003: 18.12%2004: 17.94%2005: 17.56%2006: 16.64%2007: 16.08%2008: 15.63%2009: 16.64%2010: 16.41%2011: 16.38%2012: 16.25%2013: 16.5%2014: 16.39%2015: 16.78%2016: 16.98%2017: 16.94%2018: 16.38%2019: 16.51%2020: 19.67%2021: 18.39%2022: 15.89%2023: 16.11%
Change over the period: +5.18 pp Annual average: 0.1 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Switzerland 16.11%
Western Europe computed 40.57%
Government expense — Switzerland, by year Switzerland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 16.11 +0.22 pp
2022 15.89 −2.5 pp
2021 18.39 −1.28 pp
2020 19.67 +3.16 pp
2019 16.51 +0.13 pp
2018 16.38 −0.56 pp
2017 16.94 −0.04 pp
2016 16.98 +0.2 pp
2015 16.78 +0.39 pp
2014 16.39 −0.11 pp
2013 16.5 +0.25 pp
2012 16.25 −0.13 pp
2011 16.38 −0.04 pp
2010 16.41 −0.22 pp
2009 16.64 +1 pp
2008 15.63 −0.45 pp
2007 16.08 −0.55 pp
2006 16.64 −0.92 pp
2005 17.56 −0.38 pp
2004 17.94 −0.17 pp
2003 18.12 −1.08 pp
2002 19.19 +1.89 pp
2001 17.3 −1.01 pp
2000 18.31 −0.64 pp
1999 18.95 +0.64 pp
1998 18.31 +0.04 pp
1997 18.28 +0.25 pp
1996 18.03 +0.67 pp
1995 17.36 −0.06 pp
1994 17.42 +0.1 pp
1993 17.32 +1.17 pp
1992 16.15 +1.28 pp
1991 14.86 +1.04 pp
1990 13.83
1984 16.98 +0.08 pp
1983 16.89 +0.41 pp
1982 16.48 +0.72 pp
1981 15.76 −0.65 pp
1980 16.41 −0.38 pp
1979 16.79 +0.1 pp
1978 16.69 −0.29 pp
1977 16.98 +0.25 pp
1976 16.74 +1.81 pp
1975 14.93 +2.09 pp
1974 12.83 +0.63 pp
1973 12.2 +1.27 pp
1972 10.94

Western Europe, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.