Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Tonga

Government expense in Tonga in 2023 — 34.65%. Ranked 23 in the world out of 87. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 7 pp.

2023 34.65% −5.3 pp vs 2022
World rank 23of 87
Period maximum 39.96%2022
Period minimum 27.65%2013

Trend over time

2013–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Tonga, 2013–202325303540201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232013: 27.65%2014: 30.38%2015: 30.23%2016: 31.14%2017: 31.89%2018: 31.08%2019: 30.64%2020: 31.49%2021: 36%2022: 39.96%2023: 34.65%
Change over the period: +7 pp Annual average: 0.7 pp
Government expense — Tonga, by year Tonga All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 34.65 −5.3 pp
2022 39.96 +3.96 pp
2021 36 +4.51 pp
2020 31.49 +0.85 pp
2019 30.64 −0.44 pp
2018 31.08 −0.82 pp
2017 31.89 +0.75 pp
2016 31.14 +0.92 pp
2015 30.23 −0.15 pp
2014 30.38 +2.73 pp
2013 27.65

Polynesia, 2023

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

TO Tonga 34.65 WS Samoa 26.68

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.