Central government spending as share of GDP in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Central government spending as share of GDP was 26.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Vanuatu, 1990–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for central government spending as share of gdp in Vanuatu is 26.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and up 38.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Vanuatu peaked at 30.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 18.8%, in 1999.
Vanuatu ranks 75th of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19.7% | — |
| 1995 | 20.7% | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 22.2% | +7.3% |
| 1997 | 20.3% | -8.4% |
| 1998 | 19.1% | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 18.8% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 21.0% | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 23.2% | +10.8% |
| 2011 | 22.7% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 22.7% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 19.2% | -15.5% |
| 2014 | 20.2% | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 20.5% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 22.0% | +6.9% |
| 2017 | 23.7% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 22.7% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 24.6% | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 30.4% | +23.9% |
| 2021 | 29.8% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 28.2% | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 26.6% | -5.5% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 26.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.3%, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 26.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.6%, 100% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.1% | 18.8% | 22.2% | 6 |
| 2000s | 21.0% | 21.0% | 21.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 22.2% | 19.2% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.7% | 26.6% | 30.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
More economy & growth data for Vanuatu
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.2699 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.49 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 2.79 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0021 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 8.5 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 28.86 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 211.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0222 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 88.05 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -4.52 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in Vanuatu?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Vanuatu was 26.6% 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 Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 30.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.8% in 1999.
- How does Vanuatu rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Vanuatu ranks 75th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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
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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.