Government spending vs. GDP in Australia
Australia: Government spending vs. GDP was 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
418.83 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
7th
of 166 countries
All-time high
418.83 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
All-time low
32.16 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP in Australia, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, government spending vs. gdp in Australia stood at 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 61.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in Australia peaked at 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 32.16 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1960.
That places Australia 7th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP in Australia, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 32.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 33.34 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 34.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 36.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1964 | 37.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 40.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1966 | 44.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1967 | 47.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 51.31 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.2% |
| 1969 | 52.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 56.96 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1971 | 59.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1972 | 62.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 64.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 66.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 71.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1976 | 77.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1977 | 78.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 80.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 83.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 85.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 89.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 90.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 92.81 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 97.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 105.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1986 | 110.31 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 114.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 118.34 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 121.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 125.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 129.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 132.34 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 135.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 137.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 143.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 149.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 152.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 158.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 166.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 171.53 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 174.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 180.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 185.57 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 193.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 199.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 206.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 212.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 219.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 228.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 231.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 239.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 248.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 249.59 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 253.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 259.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 271.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 285.07 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 295.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 309.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 332.86 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 354.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 379.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 385.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 399.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 41.36 billion constant 2015 US$, 10.1× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Australia's 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.18 billion constant 2015 US$, 100.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 40.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | 32.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | 52.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 70.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | 56.96 billion constant 2015 US$ | 83.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 102.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | 85.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | 121.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 142.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | 125.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | 166.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 197.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | 171.53 billion constant 2015 US$ | 228.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 264.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | 231.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | 309.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 378.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | 332.86 billion constant 2015 US$ | 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 4 United Kingdom 683.00 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 5 France 677.30 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 6 Canada 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 8 Brazil 394.09 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 9 Italy 381.64 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 10 India 341.19 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0025 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -164.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 36.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -32.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0203 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,323 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 20.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in Australia?
- Government spending vs. gdp in Australia was 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.16 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1960.
- How does Australia rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- Australia ranks 7th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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$.