Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Upper-middle-income countries

Government expense in upper-middle-income countries in 2021 — 26.35%. Since 2008, the indicator has risen by 2.51 pp.

2021 26.35% −2.45 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 28.8%2020
Period minimum 23.84%2008

Trend over time

2008–2021 · % of GDP

Government expense — Upper-middle-income countries, 2008–20212224262830200820102012201420162018202020212008: 23.84%2009: 23.85%2010: 25.44%2011: 25.46%2012: 25.15%2013: 25.6%2014: 25.9%2015: 26.7%2016: 26.85%2017: 26.44%2018: 26.17%2019: 26.25%2020: 28.8%2021: 26.35%
Change over the period: +2.51 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp

Comparison, 2021

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Upper-middle-income countries

Upper-middle-income countries 26.35%
World 31.74%
Government expense — Upper-middle-income countries, by year Upper-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2021 26.35 −2.45 pp
2020 28.8 +2.54 pp
2019 26.25 +0.09 pp
2018 26.17 −0.27 pp
2017 26.44 −0.41 pp
2016 26.85 +0.15 pp
2015 26.7 +0.8 pp
2014 25.9 +0.29 pp
2013 25.6 +0.45 pp
2012 25.15 −0.31 pp
2011 25.46 +0.02 pp
2010 25.44 +1.59 pp
2009 23.85 +0.01 pp
2008 23.84

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.