Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Thailand

Government expense in Thailand in 2023 — 20.72%. Ranked 60 in the world out of 87. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 8.24 pp.

2023 20.72% −1.51 pp vs 2022
World rank 60of 87
Period maximum 25.14%2021
Period minimum 10.33%1974

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Thailand, 1972–2023101520253019721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 12.48%1973: 11.92%1974: 10.33%1975: 12.52%1976: 13.05%1977: 12.31%1978: 13.03%1979: 13.97%1980: 15.36%1981: 15.43%1982: 16.34%1983: 16.18%1984: 16.35%1985: 17.01%1986: 16.31%1987: 14.9%1988: 13.1%1989: 12.51%1990: 11.78%1991: 11.66%1992: 11.5%1993: 11.34%1994: 11.22%1995: 10.81%1996: 11.19%1997: 13.23%1998: 16.46%1999: 19.55%2000: 13.5%2001: 15.74%2002: 20.19%2003: 14.85%2004: 15.49%2005: 15.31%2006: 15.06%2007: 16.55%2008: 17.06%2009: 18.41%2010: 17.41%2011: 19.42%2012: 18.62%2013: 19.82%2014: 20%2015: 19.39%2016: 19.67%2017: 19.12%2018: 19.02%2019: 18.67%2020: 22.84%2021: 25.14%2022: 22.23%2023: 20.72%
Change over the period: +8.24 pp Annual average: 0.16 pp
Government expense — Thailand, by year Thailand All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 20.72 −1.51 pp
2022 22.23 −2.91 pp
2021 25.14 +2.3 pp
2020 22.84 +4.17 pp
2019 18.67 −0.35 pp
2018 19.02 −0.1 pp
2017 19.12 −0.54 pp
2016 19.67 +0.27 pp
2015 19.39 −0.6 pp
2014 20 +0.18 pp
2013 19.82 +1.2 pp
2012 18.62 −0.8 pp
2011 19.42 +2.01 pp
2010 17.41 −1 pp
2009 18.41 +1.35 pp
2008 17.06 +0.51 pp
2007 16.55 +1.49 pp
2006 15.06 −0.25 pp
2005 15.31 −0.18 pp
2004 15.49 +0.64 pp
2003 14.85 −5.34 pp
2002 20.19 +4.45 pp
2001 15.74 +2.24 pp
2000 13.5 −6.05 pp
1999 19.55 +3.09 pp
1998 16.46 +3.22 pp
1997 13.23 +2.05 pp
1996 11.19 +0.38 pp
1995 10.81 −0.42 pp
1994 11.22 −0.11 pp
1993 11.34 −0.17 pp
1992 11.5 −0.16 pp
1991 11.66 −0.12 pp
1990 11.78 −0.74 pp
1989 12.51 −0.59 pp
1988 13.1 −1.8 pp
1987 14.9 −1.41 pp
1986 16.31 −0.7 pp
1985 17.01 +0.67 pp
1984 16.35 +0.16 pp
1983 16.18 −0.15 pp
1982 16.34 +0.91 pp
1981 15.43 +0.06 pp
1980 15.36 +1.39 pp
1979 13.97 +0.94 pp
1978 13.03 +0.72 pp
1977 12.31 −0.74 pp
1976 13.05 +0.52 pp
1975 12.52 +2.19 pp
1974 10.33 −1.59 pp
1973 11.92 −0.56 pp
1972 12.48

South-Eastern Asia, 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.