Government spending vs. GDP in New Zealand
New Zealand: Government spending vs. GDP was 44.88 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
44.88 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
43rd
of 166 countries
All-time high
45.45 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2023
All-time low
11.17 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Government spending vs. GDP in New Zealand, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending vs. gdp in New Zealand is 44.88 billion constant 2015 US$, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 39.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in New Zealand peaked at 45.45 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 11.17 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1970.
That places New Zealand 43rd out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Government spending vs. GDP in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1971 | 11.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 12.13 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 12.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 13.66 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1975 | 14.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 14.22 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 15.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 15.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 15.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 15.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 15.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 16.23 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 16.52 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 16.81 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 16.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 17.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 17.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 18.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 18.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 18.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 18.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 18.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 19.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 19.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 19.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 20.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 21.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 21.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 21.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 22.47 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 22.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 24.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 25.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 26.73 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 27.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 28.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 29.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 29.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 30.34 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 30.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 30.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 31.34 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 32.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 32.96 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 33.57 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 34.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 35.93 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 37.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 40.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 43.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2022 | 44.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 45.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 44.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.52 billion constant 2015 US$ | 11.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | 15.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.57 billion constant 2015 US$ | 15.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | 18.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | 18.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | 21.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.87 billion constant 2015 US$ | 21.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | 29.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.07 billion constant 2015 US$ | 30.34 billion constant 2015 US$ | 37.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | 40.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | 45.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 40 Algeria 46.72 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 41 Singapore 45.72 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 42 Czechia 45.69 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 44 Hong Kong 42.14 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 45 Greece 41.73 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 46 Viet Nam 41.64 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
More economy & growth data for New Zealand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.71 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.37 Percent per annum (2029)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 3.93 % change on previous year (2023)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6823 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 33,641 current US$ per person (2023)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 7.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1.11 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per capita 54,782 current LCU per person (2023)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -0.1121 % change on previous year (2024)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5794 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in New Zealand?
- Government spending vs. gdp in New Zealand was 44.88 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 45.45 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.17 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1970.
- How does New Zealand rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- New Zealand ranks 43rd out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 55 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$.