Germany vs United States: Government spending vs. GDP
Germany
833.98 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
United States
3.03 trillion constant 2015 US$
in 2024
Germany rank
3rd
United States rank
1st
Government spending vs. GDP over time
- Germany
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 3.03 trillion constant 2015 US$ against 833.98 billion constant 2015 US$ in Germany, a difference of 2.20 trillion constant 2015 US$.
That makes United States's figure about 3.6 times Germany's.
Across all 55 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
Germany ranks 3rd and United States ranks 1st of 166 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Germany | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 307.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.42 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.12 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States |
| 1980s | 394.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.72 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.32 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States |
| 1990s | 471.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.08 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.61 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States |
| 2000s | 560.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.49 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.93 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States |
| 2010s | 670.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.66 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.99 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States |
| 2020s | 800.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.92 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 2.11 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher government spending vs. gdp, Germany or United States?
- United States, at 3.03 trillion constant 2015 US$ against 833.98 billion constant 2015 US$ in Germany as of 2024.
- What is the difference in government spending vs. gdp between Germany and United States?
- 2.20 trillion constant 2015 US$, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and United States?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
- How do Germany and United States rank globally for government spending vs. gdp?
- Germany ranks 3rd and United States ranks 1st of 166 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.