Government spending as share of GDP in Denmark
Denmark: Government spending as share of GDP was 47.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Government spending as share of GDP in Denmark, 1880–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending as share of gdp in Denmark is 47.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending as share of gdp in Denmark peaked at 60.2% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.4%, in 1914.
Denmark ranks 19th of 151 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 6.7% | 5.6% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 1890s | 6.4% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1900s | 6.0% | 5.4% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1910s | 6.3% | 4.4% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1920s | 8.9% | 6.4% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 1930s | 9.6% | 6.9% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 1940s | 12.3% | 8.1% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 1950s | 14.1% | 10.0% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.5% | 15.6% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 42.4% | 24.4% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 55.5% | 52.3% | 57.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 57.6% | 55.4% | 60.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.8% | 50.8% | 58.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.1% | 49.8% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.6% | 45.1% | 53.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More economy & growth data for Denmark
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 11.0% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 1.9% (2025)
- GDP per capita 62,218 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 18.7% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 373.88 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 62,218 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 6.62 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -37.70 billion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -5.69 billion current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 346.97 billion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending as share of gdp in Denmark?
- Government spending as share of gdp in Denmark was 47.3% 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 60.2% in 1993.
- What is the lowest government spending as share of gdp recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.4% in 1914.
- How does Denmark rank for government spending as share of gdp?
- Denmark ranks 19th out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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
The 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.