Expense in New Zealand

New Zealand: Expense was 35.5% in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
35.5%
Change on year
up 5.5%
World rank
32nd
of 157 countries
All-time high
41.1%
in 1987
All-time low
25.9%
in 1972
Years of data
39
1972–2022

Expense in New Zealand, 1972–2022

0102030401972199720221972: 25.9 % of GDP1973: 26.1 % of GDP1974: 27.7 % of GDP1975: 31.4 % of GDP1976: 28.5 % of GDP1977: 31.4 % of GDP1978: 34.2 % of GDP1979: 33.8 % of GDP1980: 35 % of GDP1981: 36.2 % of GDP1982: 37.3 % of GDP1983: 36.6 % of GDP1984: 37.2 % of GDP1985: 36.1 % of GDP1986: 37.5 % of GDP1987: 41.1 % of GDP1988: 39.2 % of GDP2001: 31.6 % of GDP2002: 30.7 % of GDP2003: 31.2 % of GDP2004: 30.4 % of GDP2005: 31 % of GDP2006: 31.4 % of GDP2007: 31.3 % of GDP2008: 32.6 % of GDP2009: 34.1 % of GDP2010: 34.1 % of GDP2011: 40 % of GDP2012: 35 % of GDP2013: 33.1 % of GDP2014: 32.3 % of GDP2015: 31.5 % of GDP2016: 30.7 % of GDP2017: 29.9 % of GDP2018: 29.7 % of GDP2019: 30.1 % of GDP2020: 36.3 % of GDP2021: 33.6 % of GDP2022: 35.5 % of GDP

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

The most recent figure for expense in New Zealand is 35.5%, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of up 5.5% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, expense in New Zealand peaked at 41.1% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 25.9%, in 1972.

That places New Zealand 32nd out of 157 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

Expense in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Expense (% of GDP) in New Zealand, 1972 to 2022.
Year % of GDP Change
1972 25.9%
1973 26.1% +0.6%
1974 27.7% +6.2%
1975 31.4% +13.6%
1976 28.5% -9.3%
1977 31.4% +10.1%
1978 34.2% +8.8%
1979 33.8% -0.9%
1980 35.0% +3.3%
1981 36.2% +3.6%
1982 37.3% +2.9%
1983 36.6% -1.8%
1984 37.2% +1.6%
1985 36.1% -2.8%
1986 37.5% +3.7%
1987 41.1% +9.6%
1988 39.2% -4.6%
2001 31.6% -19.5%
2002 30.7% -2.6%
2003 31.2% +1.6%
2004 30.4% -2.5%
2005 31.0% +1.8%
2006 31.4% +1.3%
2007 31.3% -0.2%
2008 32.6% +4.0%
2009 34.1% +4.6%
2010 34.1% +0.3%
2011 40.0% +17.3%
2012 35.0% -12.7%
2013 33.1% -5.4%
2014 32.3% -2.3%
2015 31.5% -2.5%
2016 30.7% -2.6%
2017 29.9% -2.6%
2018 29.7% -0.7%
2019 30.1% +1.1%
2020 36.3% +20.8%
2021 33.6% -7.3%
2022 35.5% +5.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 29.9% 25.9% 34.2% 8
1980s 37.3% 35.0% 41.1% 9
2000s 31.6% 30.4% 34.1% 9
2010s 32.7% 29.7% 40.0% 10
2020s 35.1% 33.6% 36.3% 3

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 29 Uruguay 36.5% compare
  2. 30 Namibia 36.2% compare
  3. 31 Bulgaria 35.8% compare
  4. 33 Serbia 35.5% compare
  5. 34 Bosnia and Herzegovina 35.3% compare
  6. 35 Tonga 34.7% compare

See the full ranking of 183 places →

More economy & growth data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is expense in New Zealand?
Expense in New Zealand was 35.5% in 2022, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest expense recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 41.1% in 1987.
What is the lowest expense recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 25.9% in 1972.
How does New Zealand rank for expense?
New Zealand ranks 32nd out of 157 countries with data for 2022.
Is expense rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Expense (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Expense in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/expense-percent-of-gdp/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Expense (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
183 places, 5,211 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Expense is a decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.