Bulgaria vs Serbia: Central government spending as share of GDP

Bulgaria
35.8%
in 2023
Serbia
35.5%
in 2022
Bulgaria rank
31st
Serbia rank
33rd

Central government spending as share of GDP over time

  • Bulgaria
  • Serbia
0204060199020062023

How they compare

Bulgaria currently reports 35.8% against 35.5% in Serbia, a difference of 0.3%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 16 shared years of data; in 2007 it was Serbia ahead.

Bulgaria ranks 31st and Serbia ranks 33rd of 157 countries.

Serbia has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Bulgaria Serbia Difference Ahead
2000s 32.8% 34.0% 1.2% Serbia
2010s 32.8% 36.9% 4.1% Serbia
2020s 37.8% 38.6% 0.7% Serbia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher central government spending as share of gdp, Bulgaria or Serbia?
Bulgaria, at 35.8% against 35.5% in Serbia as of 2023.
What is the difference in central government spending as share of gdp between Bulgaria and Serbia?
0.3%, with Bulgaria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Bulgaria and Serbia?
16 years are reported by both, from 2007 to 2022.
How do Bulgaria and Serbia rank globally for central government spending as share of gdp?
Bulgaria ranks 31st and Serbia ranks 33rd of 157 countries.
Where does this data come from?
International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Bulgaria vs Serbia: Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/total-gov-expenditure-gdp-wdi/bulgaria/serbia/

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About this data

Indicator
Central government spending as share of GDP
Unit
% of GDP
Source
International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
157 places, 4,442 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.