Greece vs Italy: Central government spending as share of GDP

Greece
47.3%
in 2023
Italy
47.3%
in 2023
Greece rank
7th
Italy rank
8th

Central government spending as share of GDP over time

  • Greece
  • Italy
2030405060197219972023

How they compare

Greece currently reports 47.3% against 47.3% in Italy, a difference of 0.0%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 42 shared years of data; in 1973 it was Italy ahead.

Greece ranks 7th and Italy ranks 8th of 157 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, Greece averaged higher in 3 and Italy in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade Greece Italy Difference Ahead
1970s 19.1% 30.5% 11.4% Italy
1980s 32.4% 43.4% 11.0% Italy
1990s 43.9% 44.2% 0.4% Italy
2000s 45.1% 39.9% 5.2% Greece
2010s 51.8% 43.0% 8.8% Greece
2020s 52.8% 48.9% 3.8% Greece

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher central government spending as share of gdp, Greece or Italy?
Greece, at 47.3% against 47.3% in Italy as of 2023.
What is the difference in central government spending as share of gdp between Greece and Italy?
0.0%, with Greece ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Greece and Italy?
42 years are reported by both, from 1973 to 2023.
How do Greece and Italy rank globally for central government spending as share of gdp?
Greece ranks 7th and Italy ranks 8th 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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Greece vs Italy: 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 29 August 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/total-gov-expenditure-gdp-wdi/greece/italy/

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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.