Central government spending as share of GDP in New Zealand
New Zealand: Central government spending as share of GDP was 35.5% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Central government spending as share of GDP in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand stood at 35.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.5% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in New Zealand peaked at 41.1% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 25.9%, in 1972.
That places New Zealand 32nd out of 157 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Central government spending as share of GDP in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 25.9% | — |
| 1973 | 26.1% | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 27.7% | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 31.4% | +13.6% |
| 1976 | 28.5% | -9.3% |
| 1977 | 31.4% | +10.1% |
| 1978 | 34.2% | +8.8% |
| 1979 | 33.8% | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 35.0% | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 36.2% | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 37.3% | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 36.6% | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 37.2% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 36.1% | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 37.5% | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 41.1% | +9.6% |
| 1988 | 39.2% | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 31.6% | -19.5% |
| 2002 | 30.7% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 31.2% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 30.4% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 31.0% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 31.4% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 31.3% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 32.6% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 34.1% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 34.1% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 40.0% | +17.3% |
| 2012 | 35.0% | -12.7% |
| 2013 | 33.1% | -5.4% |
| 2014 | 32.3% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 31.5% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 30.7% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 29.9% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 29.7% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 30.1% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 36.3% | +20.8% |
| 2021 | 33.6% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 35.5% | +5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 29.9% | 25.9% | 34.2% | 8 |
| 1980s | 37.3% | 35.0% | 41.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 31.6% | 30.4% | 34.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 32.7% | 29.7% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.1% | 33.6% | 36.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More economy & growth data for New Zealand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.71 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.37 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 5,489 constant LCU per person (2024)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 1.63 % change on previous year (2023)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.1944 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 9,582 current US$ per person (2023)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 4.94 % change on previous year (2023)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 0.3165 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 15,604 current LCU per person (2023)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -4.66 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in New Zealand?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in New Zealand was 35.5% 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 41.1% in 1987.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.9% in 1972.
- How does New Zealand rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- New Zealand ranks 32nd out of 157 countries with data for 2022.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.