
Sri Lanka: Government spending, percent of GDP
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
| Sri Lanka |
Government spending as percent of GDP |
|---|---|
| Latest value | 6.96 |
| Year | 2024 |
| Measure | percent |
| Data availability | 1960 - 2024 |
| Average | 10.85 |
| Min - Max | 6.78 - 17.61 |
| Source | The World Bank |
The latest value from 2024 is 6.96 percent, an increase from 6.78 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 15.06 percent, based on data from 120 countries. Historically, the average for Sri Lanka from 1960 to 2024 is 10.85 percent. The minimum value, 6.78 percent, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 17.61 percent was recorded in 2009.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
Recent data
Historical series
The government size of Sri Lanka and other countries is calculated as the total government spending as percent of GDP.
Definition: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.
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| Related indicators | Latest | Reference | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending, percent of GDP | 6.96 | 2024 | percent |
| Government spending, in dollars | 7.34 | 2025 | billion U.S. dollars |
| Fiscal balance, percent of GDP | -5.64 | 2024 | percent |
| Primary budget balance | 2.18 | 2024 | percent |
| Government expenditure | 518.44 | Q3/2024 | billion |
| Tax revenue | 9.88 | 2023 | percent |
| Commercial tax rate | 55.20 | 2019 | percent |
| Tax preparation time | 129 | 2019 | hours |
| Taxes on goods and services | 46.08 | 2023 | percent |
| Taxes on international trade | 12.77 | 2023 | percent |
| Income and profits taxes | 29.64 | 2023 | percent |
| Foreign aid | 827.26 | 2023 | million U.S. dollars |
| Government debt | 100.84 | 2024 | percent |
| Sovereign debt average maturity | 4.52 | 2022 | percent |
| Short-term government debt | 16.25 | 2024 | percent |