Central government spending as share of GDP in Congo
Congo: Central government spending as share of GDP was 16.1% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Central government spending as share of GDP in Congo, 2001–2021
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2021, central government spending as share of gdp in Congo stood at 16.1%.
The figure is down 9.3% on the previous year and up 58.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Congo peaked at 28.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 2011.
Congo ranks 130th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Congo, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 21.5% | — |
| 2002 | 26.8% | +24.6% |
| 2003 | 19.5% | -27.1% |
| 2004 | 28.7% | +46.7% |
| 2005 | 21.5% | -25.2% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | -17.2% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 15.3% | -17.2% |
| 2009 | 13.9% | -9.3% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | -22.5% |
| 2011 | 10.2% | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 11.7% | +14.5% |
| 2013 | 10.9% | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 12.8% | +17.4% |
| 2015 | 14.9% | +16.7% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | +15.1% |
| 2017 | 16.0% | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 16.4% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 16.2% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 17.8% | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | -9.3% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 16.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.3%, 72% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Congo's 16.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 98% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.4% | 13.9% | 28.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 13.7% | 10.2% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.0% | 16.1% | 17.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More economy & growth data for Congo
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.79 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.01 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 25.39 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0016 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.01 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 603.62 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -3.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0384 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 95.31 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 6.03 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in Congo?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Congo was 16.1% in 2021, 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 28.7% in 2004.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 2011.
- How does Congo rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Congo ranks 130th out of 157 countries with data for 2021.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Congo 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.