Central government spending as share of GDP in Spain
Spain: Central government spending as share of GDP was 34.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Spain, 1972–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Spain recorded 34.0% for central government spending as share of gdp in 2023.
The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Spain peaked at 40.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.0%, in 1972.
That places Spain 41st out of 157 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Spain, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 16.0% | — |
| 1973 | 16.2% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 16.4% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 17.3% | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 17.6% | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 19.2% | +9.0% |
| 1978 | 21.0% | +9.2% |
| 1979 | 22.5% | +7.5% |
| 1980 | 23.1% | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 23.5% | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 26.3% | +12.0% |
| 1983 | 26.9% | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 27.6% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 29.6% | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 29.5% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 29.6% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 29.1% | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 29.4% | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 29.4% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 30.2% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 31.7% | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 34.7% | +9.2% |
| 1994 | 33.8% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 28.9% | -14.5% |
| 2005 | 27.3% | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 27.2% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 27.4% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 28.6% | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 32.4% | +13.3% |
| 2010 | 31.5% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 31.2% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 38.0% | +21.9% |
| 2013 | 35.3% | -7.1% |
| 2014 | 34.5% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 32.7% | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 32.4% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 31.4% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 31.7% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 32.1% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 40.4% | +25.7% |
| 2021 | 38.4% | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 35.3% | -7.9% |
| 2023 | 34.0% | -3.7% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 34.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 34.2%, 100% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Spain's 34.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 34.5%, 99% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18.3% | 16.0% | 22.5% | 8 |
| 1980s | 27.5% | 23.1% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.9% | 29.4% | 34.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 28.6% | 27.2% | 32.4% | 6 |
| 2010s | 33.1% | 31.2% | 38.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.0% | 34.0% | 40.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More economy & growth data for Spain
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.77 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.62 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 46.38 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0243 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 939.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 28.09 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -34.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0147 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 569.12 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 19.32 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in Spain?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Spain was 34.0% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 40.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.0% in 1972.
- How does Spain rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Spain ranks 41st out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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 — 43 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.