Government spending as share of GDP in India
India: Government spending as share of GDP was 28.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Government spending as share of GDP in India, 1861–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, government spending as share of gdp in India stood at 28.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending as share of gdp in India peaked at 31.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 1924.
India ranks 86th of 151 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 6.3% | 5.5% | 7.0% | 9 |
| 1870s | 6.4% | 5.5% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1880s | 7.4% | 6.4% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 1890s | 6.5% | 6.0% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1900s | 6.4% | 5.3% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1910s | 5.9% | 4.6% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 1920s | 4.7% | 4.1% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 1930s | 5.3% | 4.8% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 1940s | 7.8% | 5.1% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 1950s | 8.2% | 5.3% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.6% | 11.2% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.3% | 11.3% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.7% | 16.6% | 25.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.9% | 24.4% | 27.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.0% | 26.1% | 29.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.9% | 26.2% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.3% | 27.9% | 31.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 83 Albania 28.9% compare
- 84 Rwanda 28.8% compare
- 85 Oman 28.7% compare
- 87 Burkina Faso 27.8% compare
- 88 Tajikistan 27.7% compare
- 89 Uzbekistan 27.6% compare
More economy & growth data for India
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP -1.7% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 2.4% (2025)
- GDP per capita 2,523 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 13.5% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 3.69 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 2,523 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 87.33 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 10.54 trillion current LCU (2024)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 124.62 billion current US$ (2024)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 31.86 trillion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending as share of gdp in India?
- Government spending as share of gdp in India was 28.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 31.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest government spending as share of gdp recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 1924.
- How does India rank for government spending as share of gdp?
- India ranks 86th out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.
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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.