Government expense — all countries

Government expense — World

Government expense in the world in 2022 — 28.49%. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 4.74 pp.

2022 28.49% −3.25 pp vs 2021
World rank
Period maximum 33.42%2020
Period minimum 23.64%2000

Trend over time

1990–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — World, 1990–202222.52527.53032.5351990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 23.75%1994: 25.15%1995: 25.53%1996: 25.14%1997: 24.3%1998: 25.01%1999: 24.59%2000: 23.64%2001: 24.69%2002: 24.94%2003: 25.19%2004: 24.8%2005: 25.09%2006: 24.86%2007: 24.76%2008: 25.91%2009: 28.39%2010: 28.38%2011: 27.48%2012: 27.45%2013: 27.07%2014: 26.79%2015: 26.75%2016: 26.56%2017: 26.28%2018: 26.14%2019: 26.7%2020: 33.42%2021: 31.74%2022: 28.49%
Change over the period: +4.74 pp Annual average: 0.15 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

World 28.49%
World 28.49%
Government expense — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 28.49 −3.25 pp
2021 31.74 −1.68 pp
2020 33.42 +6.72 pp
2019 26.7 +0.56 pp
2018 26.14 −0.14 pp
2017 26.28 −0.27 pp
2016 26.56 −0.2 pp
2015 26.75 −0.04 pp
2014 26.79 −0.28 pp
2013 27.07 −0.38 pp
2012 27.45 −0.03 pp
2011 27.48 −0.9 pp
2010 28.38 −0.01 pp
2009 28.39 +2.49 pp
2008 25.91 +1.15 pp
2007 24.76 −0.1 pp
2006 24.86 −0.23 pp
2005 25.09 +0.29 pp
2004 24.8 −0.39 pp
2003 25.19 +0.25 pp
2002 24.94 +0.25 pp
2001 24.69 +1.05 pp
2000 23.64 −0.94 pp
1999 24.59 −0.42 pp
1998 25.01 +0.71 pp
1997 24.3 −0.83 pp
1996 25.14 −0.39 pp
1995 25.53 +0.38 pp
1994 25.15
1990 23.75

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.