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Central government spending
What this indicator measures
What the central government spends each year (salaries, pensions, roads, health and so on), compared with the size of the economy.
How to read this?
The higher it is, the more weight the state has in the economy.
Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest
In brief
The "Central government spending" ranking covers 160 countries and territories. Lowest value: United Arab Emirates (3.8 %). Highest value: Nauru (103.6 %). Median: 25.9 % (data: 1980–2024). The top 10% of countries exceed 40.3 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 12.4 %. By continent, the median is highest in Europe (35.8 %) and lowest in Africa (16.9 %).
Median by continent
- Europe 35.8 % (39)
- Oceania 28.9 % (13)
- South America 24.6 % (9)
- North America 23.4 % (18)
- Asia 20.4 % (38)
- Africa 16.9 % (40)
Why this indicator matters
यह संकेतक अर्थव्यवस्था में केंद्र सरकार का वज़न बताता है। इससे उन देशों की तुलना होती है जो सार्वजनिक सेवाओं, पेंशन या स्वास्थ्य पर बहुत खर्च करते हैं और उन देशों की जो निजी क्षेत्र के लिए ज़्यादा जगह छोड़ते हैं।
What makes this indicator vary
सार्वजनिक सेवाओं के विस्तार, बुज़ुर्ग होती आबादी, सामाजिक सहायता और संकट के दौर में यह बढ़ता है। जब सरकार पीछे हटती है, खर्च का एक हिस्सा स्थानीय निकायों के पास चला जाता है या कर संसाधन कमज़ोर होते हैं, तब यह घटता है।
Reading precautions
केवल केंद्र सरकार गिनी जाती है: क्षेत्र, नगरपालिकाएँ और सामाजिक सुरक्षा निधियाँ बाहर हो सकती हैं, जिससे बहुत विकेंद्रीकृत और केंद्रीकृत देशों की तुलना कठिन हो जाती है। ज़्यादा खर्च का मतलब बेहतर सेवाएँ नहीं होता।
Full ranking
ranked from highest to lowest
| Rank | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | 🇳🇷 Nauru | 103.6 % | 2020 |
| 2e | 🇰🇮 Kiribati | 83.7 % | 2023 |
| 3e | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 65.6 % | 2023 |
| 4e | 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands | 59.4 % | 2020 |
| 5e | 🇵🇼 Palau | 59 % | 2020 |
| 6e | 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 52.5 % | 2022 |
| 7e | 🇬🇷 Greece | 47.3 % | 2023 |
| 8e | 🇮🇹 Italy | 47.3 % | 2023 |
| 9e | 🇫🇷 France | 47.3 % | 2023 |
| 10e | 🇦🇹 Austria | 46 % | 2023 |
| 11e | 🇫🇮 Finland | 44.9 % | 2023 |
| 12e | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 42.9 % | 2023 |
| 13e | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 42.4 % | 2022 |
| 14e | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 42.2 % | 2023 |
| 15e | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 41.2 % | 2023 |
| 16e | 🇸🇲 San Marino | 40.5 % | 2023 |
| 17e | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 40.2 % | 2022 |
| 18e | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 40 % | 2023 |
| 19e | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 39.8 % | 2022 |
| 20e | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 39.7 % | 2022 |
| 21e | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 39.2 % | 2017 |
| 22e | 🇵🇱 Poland | 39.1 % | 2023 |
| 23e | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 38.5 % | 2023 |
| 24e | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 38.1 % | 2023 |
| 25e | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 37.7 % | 2023 |
| 26e | 🇮🇱 Israel | 37.3 % | 2023 |
| 27e | 🇷🇴 Romania | 37.3 % | 2022 |
| 28e | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 37.2 % | 2023 |
| 29e | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 36.5 % | 2023 |
| 30e | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 36.2 % | 2023 |
| 31e | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 35.8 % | 2023 |
| 32e | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 35.5 % | 2022 |
| 33e | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 35.5 % | 2022 |
| 34e | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 35.3 % | 2023 |
| 35e | 🇹🇴 Tonga | 34.7 % | 2023 |
| 36e | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 34.6 % | 2006 |
| 37e | 🇳🇴 Norway | 34.5 % | 2023 |
| 38e | 🇲🇩 Moldova | 34.5 % | 2023 |
| 39e | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 34.4 % | 2022 |
| 40e | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 34.4 % | 1982 |
| 41e | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 34.2 % | 2023 |
| 42e | 🇪🇸 Spain | 34 % | 2023 |
| 43e | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 33.9 % | 2023 |
| 44e | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 33.8 % | 2012 |
| 45e | 🇲🇹 Malta | 33.7 % | 2023 |
| 46e | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 33.4 % | 2022 |
| 47e | 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 33.4 % | 2023 |
| 48e | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 33.3 % | 2023 |
| 49e | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 33.3 % | 2019 |
| 50e | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 33.3 % | 2023 |
| 51e | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 33 % | 2023 |
| 52e | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 32.5 % | 2022 |
| 53e | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 32.4 % | 2023 |
| 54e | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 32 % | 2023 |
| 55e | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 31.7 % | 2021 |
| 56e | 🇩🇪 Germany | 31.2 % | 2022 |
| 57e | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 30.9 % | 2020 |
| 58e | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 30.4 % | 2022 |
| 59e | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 30.2 % | 2015 |
| 60e | 🇷🇺 Russia | 30 % | 2023 |
| 61e | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 29.5 % | 2021 |
| 62e | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 29.1 % | 2023 |
| 63e | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 28.9 % | 2022 |
| 64e | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 28.8 % | 2016 |
| 65e | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 28.6 % | 2023 |
| 66e | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 28.5 % | 2023 |
| 67e | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 28.3 % | 2023 |
| 68e | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 27.9 % | 2023 |
| 69e | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 27.8 % | 2023 |
| 70e | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 27.8 % | 2023 |
| 71e | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 27.6 % | 2019 |
| 72e | 🇦🇺 Australia | 27.6 % | 2022 |
| 73e | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 27.5 % | 2020 |
| 74e | 🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis | 26.7 % | 2020 |
| 75e | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 26.7 % | 2023 |
| 76e | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 26.6 % | 2023 |
| 77e | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 26.6 % | 2023 |
| 78e | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 26.5 % | 2024 |
| 79e | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 26.1 % | 2020 |
| 80e | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 26 % | 2022 |
| 81e | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 25.9 % | 2023 |
| 82e | 🇦🇱 Albania | 25.4 % | 2023 |
| 83e | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 25.2 % | 2023 |
| 84e | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 25.1 % | 2021 |
| 85e | 🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines | 24.7 % | 2017 |
| 86e | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 24.6 % | 2008 |
| 87e | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 24.6 % | 2021 |
| 88e | 🇨🇱 Chile | 24.6 % | 2023 |
| 89e | 🇺🇸 United States | 24.4 % | 2023 |
| 90e | 🇭🇳 Honduras | 24.4 % | 2020 |
| 91e | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 24.2 % | 2023 |
| 92e | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | 24.1 % | 2020 |
| 93e | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 23.7 % | 2023 |
| 94e | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 23.6 % | 2023 |
| 95e | 🇫🇲 Micronesia | 23.4 % | 2020 |
| 96e | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 23 % | 2022 |
| 97e | 🇵🇪 Peru | 22.8 % | 2021 |
| 98e | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 22.7 % | 2022 |
| 99e | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 22.5 % | 2023 |
| 100e | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 22.3 % | 2023 |
| 101e | 🇧🇿 Belize | 22.3 % | 2017 |
| 102e | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 21.8 % | 2007 |
| 103e | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 21 % | 2023 |
| 104e | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 20.9 % | 2023 |
| 105e | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 20.7 % | 2023 |
| 106e | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 20.3 % | 2023 |
| 107e | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 20.3 % | 2023 |
| 108e | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 20.2 % | 2022 |
| 109e | 🇯🇵 Japan | 20.1 % | 2022 |
| 110e | 🇮🇷 Iran | 19.6 % | 2009 |
| 111e | 🇲🇴 Macao SAR China | 19.6 % | 2023 |
| 112e | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 19.6 % | 2023 |
| 113e | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 19.4 % | 2021 |
| 114e | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 19.2 % | 2022 |
| 115e | 🇨🇦 Canada | 19.1 % | 2023 |
| 116e | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 18.9 % | 2023 |
| 117e | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 18.1 % | 2023 |
| 118e | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 18 % | 2023 |
| 119e | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 18 % | 2023 |
| 120e | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 17.9 % | 2023 |
| 121e | 🇱🇨 St. Lucia | 17.6 % | 2017 |
| 122e | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 17.4 % | 2023 |
| 123e | 🇬🇲 Gambia | 17.2 % | 1990 |
| 124e | 🇵🇦 Panama | 17.1 % | 2021 |
| 125e | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 17.1 % | 2023 |
| 126e | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 17 % | 2023 |
| 127e | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 16.9 % | 2023 |
| 128e | 🇺🇬 Uganda | 16.6 % | 2023 |
| 129e | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 16.3 % | 2024 |
| 130e | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 16.3 % | 2023 |
| 131e | 🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville | 16.1 % | 2021 |
| 132e | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 16.1 % | 2023 |
| 133e | 🇹🇬 Togo | 16 % | 2023 |
| 134e | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 15.5 % | 2023 |
| 135e | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 15.4 % | 2009 |
| 136e | 🇦🇴 Angola | 14.6 % | 2019 |
| 137e | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 14.1 % | 2021 |
| 138e | 🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma) | 13.8 % | 2019 |
| 139e | 🇮🇳 India | 13.7 % | 2022 |
| 140e | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 13.5 % | 2023 |
| 141e | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 12.9 % | 2023 |
| 142e | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 12.8 % | 2000 |
| 143e | 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa | 12.4 % | 2022 |
| 144e | 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 12.4 % | 2021 |
| 145e | 🇧🇮 Burundi | 12.3 % | 2021 |
| 146e | 🇲🇱 Mali | 12.2 % | 2020 |
| 147e | 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 11.7 % | 2021 |
| 148e | 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 11 % | 2022 |
| 149e | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 11 % | 2023 |
| 150e | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 11 % | 2023 |
| 151e | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 11 % | 2018 |
| 152e | 🇱🇦 Laos | 10.3 % | 2022 |
| 153e | 🇳🇪 Niger | 10.2 % | 1980 |
| 154e | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 9.7 % | 2016 |
| 155e | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 8.3 % | 2021 |
| 156e | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 6.5 % | 1992 |
| 157e | 🇸🇴 Somalia | 6.3 % | 2023 |
| 158e | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 6.3 % | 2021 |
| 159e | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 6.1 % | 2023 |
| 160e | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 3.8 % | 2023 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest value for "Central government spending"?
The highest value is in Nauru, at 103.6 % (2020).
Which country has the lowest value for "Central government spending"?
The lowest value is in United Arab Emirates, at 3.8 % (2023).
What is the world median value of "Central government spending"?
The world median is 25.9 %, calculated across 160 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.
What is the value of "Central government spending" for France?
France scores 47.3 % (2023), ranking 9 out of 160 countries (ranked from highest to lowest).
Where does the "Central government spending" data come from?
It comes from Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.
केंद्र सरकार के सार्वजनिक खर्च में क्या आता है?
इसमें वह सब आता है जो केंद्र सरकार हर साल चुकाती है: कर्मचारियों का वेतन, खरीद, सहायता, कर्ज़ का ब्याज, निवेश। स्थानीय निकायों का खर्च आम तौर पर इसमें शामिल नहीं होता।
क्या ज़्यादा खर्च करने वाली सरकार ज़्यादा कुशल होती है?
नहीं। रकम केवल सरकारी हस्तक्षेप का दायरा बताती है। कुशलता इस पर निर्भर है कि पैसा किस चीज़ पर लगता है और बदले में कैसी सेवाएँ मिलती हैं।
Source and update
Source : Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.
Indicators in the same category : Public finances
- Government final consumptionWhat the government spends to run public services (salaries, supplies and so on), compared with the country's wealth.
- Central government debtWhat the central government owes in total, compared with what the country produces in one year.
- Research and development spendingWhat the country (government and businesses) invests in research and innovation, compared with its wealth.
- Military spendingWhat the country spends on its armed forces, compared with its wealth.
- Share of income taxes in government revenueCitizens and companies pay taxes to the state. This indicator shows what share of central government revenue comes from taxes on income, corporate profits and capital gains, rather than from other revenue (sales taxes, customs duties, grants, etc.).
- Tax revenueThe taxes and duties collected by the central government, compared with the size of the economy.
- Budget balanceThe difference between what the government takes in and what it spends, compared with the size of the economy.