Government spending by function as a share of GDP in Switzerland
Switzerland: Government spending by function as a share of GDP was 13.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Government spending by function as a share of GDP in Switzerland, 2007–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending by function as a share of gdp in Switzerland is 13.1%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending by function as a share of gdp in Switzerland peaked at 16.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 2008.
Switzerland ranks 25th of 37 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
Government spending by function as a share of GDP in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 11.9% | — |
| 2008 | 11.9% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 12.5% | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 12.6% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 12.6% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 12.6% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 13.2% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 13.3% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 13.4% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 13.0% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 13.1% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 16.6% | +26.8% |
| 2021 | 14.1% | -14.7% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.1% | 11.9% | 12.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 13.0% | 12.6% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 12.7% | 16.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More economy & growth data for Switzerland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.6894 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 7.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9739 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 111,777 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 1.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.8097 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 92,926 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.7919 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending by function as a share of gdp in Switzerland?
- Government spending by function as a share of gdp in Switzerland was 13.1% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending by function as a share of gdp recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 16.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest government spending by function as a share of gdp recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 2008.
- How does Switzerland rank for government spending by function as a share of gdp?
- Switzerland ranks 25th out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government spending by function as a share of gdp rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending by function as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.