Central government spending as share of GDP in Australia
Australia: Central government spending as share of GDP was 27.6% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Australia, 1972–2022
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2022, central government spending as share of gdp in Australia stood at 27.6%.
The figure is down 15.3% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Australia peaked at 32.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.0%, in 1972.
That places Australia 71st out of 157 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Australia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 18.0% | — |
| 1973 | 18.4% | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 18.1% | -1.7% |
| 1975 | 21.2% | +17.2% |
| 1976 | 23.6% | +11.2% |
| 1977 | 23.6% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 24.5% | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 23.7% | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 23.3% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 23.5% | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 23.3% | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 25.5% | +9.8% |
| 1984 | 26.4% | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 26.4% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 26.1% | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 25.7% | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 24.2% | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 22.2% | -8.3% |
| 1990 | 21.8% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 23.1% | +6.2% |
| 1992 | 24.4% | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 24.9% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 25.1% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 25.3% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 24.5% | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 23.8% | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 21.3% | -10.4% |
| 1999 | 24.5% | +14.9% |
| 2000 | 24.0% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 26.1% | +8.9% |
| 2002 | 26.3% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 25.7% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 25.6% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 25.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 24.9% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 24.4% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 24.3% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 26.4% | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 26.6% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 25.9% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 26.0% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 25.8% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 26.1% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 26.7% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 26.9% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 26.5% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 26.1% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 26.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 30.1% | +15.6% |
| 2021 | 32.6% | +8.0% |
| 2022 | 27.6% | -15.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 27.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 34.2%, 81% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Australia's 27.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.6%, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.4% | 18.0% | 24.5% | 8 |
| 1980s | 24.7% | 22.2% | 26.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.9% | 21.3% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.3% | 24.0% | 26.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.3% | 25.8% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.1% | 27.6% | 32.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0025 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -164.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 36.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -32.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0203 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,323 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 20.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in Australia?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Australia was 27.6% in 2022, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.0% in 1972.
- How does Australia rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Australia ranks 71st out of 157 countries with data for 2022.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.