Luxembourg vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Central government spending as share of GDP
Central government spending as share of GDP over time
- Luxembourg
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
Luxembourg currently reports 42.2% against 41.2% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 1.0%.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 52 shared years of data; in 1972 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
Luxembourg ranks 14th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 15th of 157 countries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Luxembourg | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 28.0% | 33.4% | 5.4% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1980s | 32.7% | 34.9% | 2.2% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1990s | 34.4% | 35.4% | 1.0% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2000s | 36.4% | 37.6% | 1.2% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2010s | 38.0% | 39.4% | 1.4% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 41.3% | 43.1% | 1.8% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher central government spending as share of gdp, Luxembourg or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Luxembourg, at 42.2% against 41.2% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2023.
- What is the difference in central government spending as share of gdp between Luxembourg and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 1.0%, with Luxembourg ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Luxembourg and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 52 years are reported by both, from 1972 to 2023.
- How do Luxembourg and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Luxembourg ranks 14th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 15th 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.
Individual pages
About this data
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.