Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate was -3.49 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, 2001–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded -3.49 % change on previous year for government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 214.0% on the previous year and down 92.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia peaked at 18.36 % change on previous year in 2011 and was at its lowest, -17.02 % change on previous year, in 2016.
Saudi Arabia ranks 155th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.17 % change on previous year | — |
| 2002 | -0.7691 % change on previous year | -165.6% |
| 2003 | 3.96 % change on previous year | -615.5% |
| 2004 | 7.96 % change on previous year | +100.8% |
| 2005 | 8.73 % change on previous year | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 7.99 % change on previous year | -8.5% |
| 2007 | 1.79 % change on previous year | -77.6% |
| 2008 | 3.68 % change on previous year | +105.5% |
| 2009 | 0.6011 % change on previous year | -83.7% |
| 2010 | 1.18 % change on previous year | +96.1% |
| 2011 | 18.36 % change on previous year | +1458.1% |
| 2012 | 7.33 % change on previous year | -60.1% |
| 2013 | 10.65 % change on previous year | +45.3% |
| 2014 | 12.3 % change on previous year | +15.5% |
| 2015 | -1.82 % change on previous year | -114.8% |
| 2016 | -17.02 % change on previous year | +836.9% |
| 2017 | 0.5788 % change on previous year | -103.4% |
| 2018 | 9.11 % change on previous year | +1473.9% |
| 2019 | -3.07 % change on previous year | -133.7% |
| 2020 | 4.52 % change on previous year | -247.2% |
| 2021 | 0.7736 % change on previous year | -82.9% |
| 2022 | 9.63 % change on previous year | +1145.1% |
| 2023 | 5.54 % change on previous year | -42.5% |
| 2024 | 3.06 % change on previous year | -44.7% |
| 2025 | -3.49 % change on previous year | -214.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's -3.49 % change on previous year is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.7 % change on previous year. (60 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's -3.49 % change on previous year is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.55 % change on previous year. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +1473.9% | 0.5788 % change on previous year | 9.11 % change on previous year |
| 2011 | +1458.1% | 1.18 % change on previous year | 18.36 % change on previous year |
| 2022 | +1145.1% | 0.7736 % change on previous year | 9.63 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.9 % change on previous year | -0.7691 % change on previous year | 8.73 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.76 % change on previous year | -17.02 % change on previous year | 18.36 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.34 % change on previous year | -3.49 % change on previous year | 9.63 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 152 Romania -2.59 % change on previous year compare
- 153 Democratic Republic of Congo -3.36 % change on previous year compare
- 154 El Salvador -3.38 % change on previous year compare
- 156 Marshall Islands -4.16 % change on previous year compare
- 157 United States Virgin Islands -4.43 % change on previous year compare
- 158 Djibouti -4.53 % change on previous year compare
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia?
- Government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia was -3.49 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.36 % change on previous year in 2011.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.02 % change on previous year in 2016.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 155th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 92.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Government spending vs. GDP. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Government spending vs. GDP National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Government spending vs. GDP. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.