Government spending as share of GDP in Benin
Benin: Government spending as share of GDP was 18.1% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
18.1%
Change on year
down 5.8%
World rank
136th
of 151 countries
All-time high
20.2%
in 1995
All-time low
10.7%
in 1999
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Government spending as share of GDP in Benin, 1989–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Benin recorded 18.1% for government spending as share of gdp in 2024.
The figure is down 5.8% on the previous year and up 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending as share of gdp in Benin peaked at 20.2% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1999.
Benin ranks 136th of 151 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Government spending as share of GDP in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 17.1% | — |
| 1990 | 18.1% | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 17.2% | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 18.4% | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 16.4% | -11.0% |
| 1994 | 18.5% | +13.1% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | +9.0% |
| 1996 | 18.2% | -10.1% |
| 1997 | 17.3% | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 14.9% | -14.2% |
| 1999 | 10.7% | -27.8% |
| 2000 | 15.6% | +45.6% |
| 2001 | 15.4% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 13.7% | -10.5% |
| 2004 | 13.4% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 14.1% | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 13.0% | -8.0% |
| 2007 | 15.8% | +21.6% |
| 2008 | 14.5% | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 17.0% | +16.8% |
| 2010 | 14.1% | -17.2% |
| 2011 | 14.7% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 14.2% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 14.9% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 18.2% | +27.6% |
| 2016 | 15.4% | -15.0% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | +14.7% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 14.3% | -13.2% |
| 2020 | 19.1% | +33.4% |
| 2021 | 19.9% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 19.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 18.1% | -5.8% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 18.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 23.3%, 78% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Benin's 18.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.6%, 88% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.1% | 17.1% | 17.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 17.0% | 10.7% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.8% | 13.0% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 14.1% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 18.1% | 19.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More economy & growth data for Benin
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 60.28 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0028 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.17 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 543.01 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0253 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 37.55 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 12.54 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending as share of gdp in Benin?
- Government spending as share of gdp in Benin was 18.1% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending as share of gdp recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 1995.
- What is the lowest government spending as share of gdp recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1999.
- How does Benin rank for government spending as share of gdp?
- Benin ranks 136th out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Sum of all the money spent by the government on goods and services, as a percentage of GDP. It includes interest paid on government debt.