Central government spending as share of GDP in Cyprus
Cyprus: Central government spending as share of GDP was 38.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Cyprus, 1975–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, central government spending as share of gdp in Cyprus stood at 38.5%.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Cyprus peaked at 52.6% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 22.5%, in 1979.
That places Cyprus 23rd out of 157 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Cyprus, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 30.2% | — |
| 1976 | 25.9% | -14.3% |
| 1977 | 23.3% | -9.8% |
| 1978 | 23.7% | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 22.5% | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 24.5% | +8.9% |
| 1981 | 25.7% | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 26.8% | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 30.5% | +14.2% |
| 1984 | 26.7% | -12.7% |
| 1985 | 27.2% | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 25.3% | -7.1% |
| 1987 | 27.4% | +8.3% |
| 1988 | 27.7% | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 27.5% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 29.5% | +7.4% |
| 1991 | 30.4% | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 29.7% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 29.4% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 29.8% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 28.5% | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 29.7% | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 31.2% | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 33.2% | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 32.8% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 33.3% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 33.9% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 35.5% | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 38.9% | +9.8% |
| 2004 | 37.5% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 38.5% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 38.0% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 37.3% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 38.0% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 40.8% | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 40.6% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 41.9% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 52.6% | +25.7% |
| 2013 | 44.9% | -14.7% |
| 2014 | 50.9% | +13.3% |
| 2015 | 41.7% | -18.0% |
| 2016 | 38.1% | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 36.8% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 40.3% | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 38.5% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 43.7% | +13.5% |
| 2021 | 40.7% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 36.2% | -11.0% |
| 2023 | 38.5% | +6.2% |
Cyprus compared with similar countries
- Cyprus's 38.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 34.2%, 1.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Cyprus's 38.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 34.5%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.1% | 22.5% | 30.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 26.9% | 24.5% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.4% | 28.5% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.2% | 33.3% | 40.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.6% | 36.8% | 52.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.8% | 36.2% | 43.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cyprus
More economy & growth data for Cyprus
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.45 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.98 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.57 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.038 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,144 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 11.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 122.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.2708 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 8,144 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 41.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in Cyprus?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Cyprus was 38.5% in 2023, 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 Cyprus?
- The highest recorded value was 52.6% in 2012.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Cyprus?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.5% in 1979.
- How does Cyprus rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Cyprus ranks 23rd out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Cyprus?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cyprus 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.