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.
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
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 0.6% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 2.9% (2025)
- GDP per capita 61,369 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 5.3% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 1.69 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 61,369 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 1.55 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -521.00 million current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -337.19 million current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 177.87 billion current LCU (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.