Government spending vs. GDP in Japan
Japan: Government spending vs. GDP was 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
999.41 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
2nd
of 166 countries
All-time high
999.41 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2024
All-time low
222.00 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Government spending vs. GDP in Japan, 1970–2024
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$.
Analysis
In 2024, government spending vs. gdp in Japan stood at 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in Japan peaked at 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 222.00 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1970.
That places Japan 2nd out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Government spending vs. GDP in Japan, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 222.00 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1971 | 239.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 251.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 265.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 264.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 297.53 billion constant 2015 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1976 | 310.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1977 | 323.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 339.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 354.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 365.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 385.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 401.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 419.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1984 | 432.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 437.66 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 451.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 467.87 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 485.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 497.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 515.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 536.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 550.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 569.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 591.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 614.47 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 628.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 638.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 646.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 670.22 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 697.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 713.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 726.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 740.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 749.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 755.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 757.70 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 769.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 768.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 784.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 801.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 819.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 834.53 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 847.23 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 854.67 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 868.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 883.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 885.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 894.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 913.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 935.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 970.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 985.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 983.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 41.36 billion constant 2015 US$, 24.2× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Japan's 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.18 billion constant 2015 US$, 239.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 286.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | 222.00 billion constant 2015 US$ | 354.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 434.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | 365.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | 497.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 596.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | 515.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | 670.22 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 746.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 697.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | 784.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 860.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | 801.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | 913.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 975.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 935.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 1 United States 3.03 trillion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 3 Germany 833.98 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 4 United Kingdom 683.00 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 5 France 677.30 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Japan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.4463 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0491 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,765 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.81 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 142.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0103 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 371.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 11.44 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in Japan?
- Government spending vs. gdp in Japan was 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2024, 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 222.00 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1970.
- How does Japan rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- Japan ranks 2nd out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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
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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$.