* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Government spending as percent of GDP, 2023:

The average for 2023 based on 12 countries was 13.08 percent. The highest value was in Canada: 21.23 percent and the lowest value was in Haiti: 6.22 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Measure: percent; Source: The World Bank
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Countries Government spending, percent of GDP, 2023 Global rank Available data
Canada 21.23 1 1961 - 2023
El Salvador 18.01 2 1965 - 2023
Belize 16.12 3 1980 - 2023
Costa Rica 14.87 4 1960 - 2023
Honduras 14.42 5 1960 - 2023
Bahamas 12.96 6 1977 - 2023
Nicaragua 12.16 7 1960 - 2023
Guatemala 11.58 8 1960 - 2023
Domin. Rep. 11.29 9 1960 - 2023
Mexico 11.01 10 1960 - 2023
Puerto Rico 7.12 11 1960 - 2023
Haiti 6.22 12 2000 - 2023



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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