Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) by country
Countries reporting
128
Highest
71.1%
Finland
Lowest
2.2%
Pakistan
Median
47.0%
Years covered
25
2000–2024
Data points
2,409
What the numbers show
Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) is currently reported for 128 countries. The highest value is 71.1% in Finland; the lowest is 2.2% in Pakistan.
The median across all reporting countries is 47.0%, and the mean is 46.1%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 32.
Over the past decade 78 countries rose and 49 fell. The largest increase was in Somalia (up 323.9%), and the largest decrease in Ukraine (down 57.8%).
Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finland | 71.1% | 2023 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 2 | Denmark | 70.8% | 2024 | down 1.8% | flat |
| 3 | Ireland | 70.5% | 2023 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 4 | Chile | 69.9% | 2024 | up 15.9% | rising |
| 5 | Japan | 68.3% | 2023 | down 0.2% | rising |
| 6 | Austria | 68.1% | 2024 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 7 | Moldova | 67.6% | 2023 | up 4.8% | rising |
| 7 | Republic of Moldova | 67.6% | 2023 | up 4.8% | rising |
| 9 | Sweden | 66.8% | 2024 | down 3.2% | flat |
| 10 | Uzbekistan | 66.3% | 2023 | up 2.0% | falling |
| 11 | Argentina | 66.3% | 2024 | up 27.8% | rising |
| 12 | Germany | 65.8% | 2024 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 13 | Lithuania | 65.7% | 2023 | up 4.9% | rising |
| 14 | Luxembourg | 65.4% | 2024 | down 2.3% | rising |
| 15 | France | 65.3% | 2023 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 16 | Portugal | 65.3% | 2023 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 17 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 65.2% | 2023 | up 0.2% | rising |
| 18 | Spain | 65.1% | 2024 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 19 | Costa Rica | 64.6% | 2023 | down 3.4% | rising |
| 20 | Belgium | 64.4% | 2023 | up 5.1% | rising |
| 21 | Slovenia | 64.0% | 2023 | up 11.9% | flat |
| 22 | Norway | 63.9% | 2024 | down 4.8% | flat |
| 23 | Canada | 63.8% | 2024 | down 1.8% | flat |
| 24 | Cyprus | 63.1% | 2023 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 25 | San Marino | 62.6% | 2024 | down 2.8% | flat |
| 26 | United Kingdom | 61.8% | 2023 | down 7.1% | flat |
| 26 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 61.8% | 2023 | down 7.1% | flat |
| 28 | Andorra | 61.6% | 2024 | up 7.2% | rising |
| 29 | Switzerland | 61.6% | 2024 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 30 | New Zealand | 61.4% | 2024 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 31 | Czechia | 61.4% | 2023 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 32 | Poland | 61.0% | 2022 | up 2.5% | flat |
| 33 | Australia | 60.9% | 2022 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 34 | Estonia | 60.8% | 2023 | up 3.5% | rising |
| 35 | Slovakia | 60.4% | 2023 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 36 | Bulgaria | 60.3% | 2023 | up 4.8% | rising |
| 37 | United States | 59.8% | 2023 | up 1.8% | rising |
| 38 | Serbia | 59.1% | 2012 | up 0.8% | flat |
| 39 | Italy | 58.7% | 2023 | down 6.7% | rising |
| 40 | Brazil | 58.2% | 2024 | up 4.9% | rising |
| 41 | Greece | 57.2% | 2023 | up 22.1% | rising |
| 42 | Latvia | 57.1% | 2023 | up 5.0% | flat |
| 43 | Belarus | 57.0% | 2024 | down 4.0% | rising |
| 44 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 57.0% | 2009 | up 33.8% | rising |
| 45 | Iceland | 56.7% | 2023 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 46 | Croatia | 56.5% | 2022 | up 1.7% | flat |
| 47 | Uruguay | 55.0% | 2006 | down 25.4% | falling |
| 48 | Kazakhstan | 54.6% | 2023 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 49 | Mauritius | 53.4% | 2024 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 50 | Israel | 53.4% | 2024 | down 8.2% | rising |
| 51 | Turkey | 52.5% | 2024 | down 5.2% | rising |
| 51 | Türkiye | 52.5% | 2024 | down 5.2% | rising |
| 53 | Malta | 52.2% | 2023 | down 11.5% | falling |
| 54 | Guatemala | 51.8% | 2024 | up 9.3% | rising |
| 55 | Romania | 51.4% | 2023 | down 0.3% | rising |
| 56 | Kyrgyzstan | 50.9% | 2024 | down 13.3% | rising |
| 57 | Albania | 50.9% | 2024 | down 2.0% | rising |
| 58 | Kosovo | 48.8% | 2023 | down 0.7% | flat |
| 59 | Tunisia | 48.5% | 2012 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 60 | Russia | 48.4% | 2020 | down 6.9% | rising |
| 60 | Russian Federation | 48.4% | 2020 | down 6.9% | rising |
| 62 | Namibia | 48.0% | 2023 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 63 | Mongolia | 47.5% | 2024 | down 20.4% | flat |
| 64 | Cabo Verde | 47.3% | 2020 | up 109.5% | rising |
| 65 | China | 46.6% | 2024 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 66 | Egypt | 46.0% | 2015 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 67 | Solomon Islands | 46.0% | 2020 | up 23.2% | rising |
| 68 | Trinidad and Tobago | 45.3% | 2019 | up 22.5% | rising |
| 69 | Georgia | 45.2% | 2024 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 70 | Marshall Islands | 44.9% | 2019 | down 12.8% | flat |
| 71 | South Africa | 44.2% | 2024 | up 19.2% | rising |
| 72 | Sri Lanka | 44.2% | 2016 | up 40.3% | rising |
| 73 | El Salvador | 44.0% | 2024 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 74 | Hungary | 44.0% | 2023 | down 15.8% | falling |
| 75 | Tajikistan | 43.8% | 2024 | — | rising |
| 76 | Samoa | 42.4% | 2023 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 77 | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 42.3% | 2007 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 78 | Dominican Republic | 42.0% | 2024 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 79 | Lebanon | 41.2% | 2024 | up 313.8% | volatile |
| 80 | Jordan | 41.1% | 2023 | up 8.5% | rising |
| 81 | Panama | 41.1% | 2021 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 82 | Armenia | 40.9% | 2024 | up 2.2% | rising |
| 83 | Kiribati | 40.8% | 2023 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 84 | Yemen | 40.7% | 2012 | up 54.8% | rising |
| 85 | State of Palestine | 40.3% | 2021 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 86 | Nicaragua | 40.2% | 2024 | down 11.0% | flat |
| 87 | Ecuador | 40.1% | 2022 | up 36.6% | rising |
| 88 | South Korea | 38.2% | 2010 | up 11.8% | rising |
| 88 | Republic of Korea | 38.2% | 2010 | up 11.8% | rising |
| 90 | Madagascar | 38.2% | 2024 | down 9.5% | rising |
| 91 | Thailand | 38.0% | 2024 | up 14.2% | flat |
| 92 | Kuwait | 37.8% | 2015 | up 13.6% | rising |
| 93 | Azerbaijan | 37.6% | 2023 | up 22.0% | rising |
| 94 | Botswana | 35.9% | 2023 | up 16.9% | rising |
| 95 | Seychelles | 35.6% | 2014 | up 9.4% | rising |
| 96 | Palau | 35.1% | 2019 | up 13.7% | rising |
| 97 | Philippines | 35.0% | 2024 | down 0.2% | rising |
| 98 | Bahrain | 33.1% | 2020 | up 33.2% | rising |
| 99 | Bhutan | 31.1% | 2007 | up 37.3% | rising |
| 100 | Bangladesh | 31.0% | 2016 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 101 | Jamaica | 31.0% | 2015 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 102 | Ukraine | 30.5% | 2023 | down 57.8% | falling |
| 103 | Indonesia | 30.2% | 2024 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 104 | Cook Islands | 29.8% | 2022 | up 34.2% | rising |
| 105 | Bahamas | 29.6% | 2024 | down 4.3% | falling |
| 106 | Burkina Faso | 29.5% | 2023 | up 143.5% | rising |
| 107 | Mozambique | 28.5% | 2024 | down 20.2% | falling |
| 108 | Zambia | 28.5% | 2024 | up 20.4% | falling |
| 109 | Kenya | 26.7% | 2023 | down 13.0% | falling |
| 110 | Maldives | 26.1% | 2011 | down 17.2% | falling |
| 111 | Ethiopia | 25.1% | 2024 | up 44.8% | rising |
| 112 | Liberia | 25.0% | 2013 | up 69.8% | rising |
| 113 | Nepal | 24.4% | 2023 | down 23.3% | falling |
| 114 | Singapore | 23.8% | 2024 | down 44.5% | rising |
| 115 | Nauru | 21.9% | 2024 | down 34.1% | falling |
| 115 | Naoero | 21.9% | 2024 | down 34.1% | falling |
| 117 | Papua New Guinea | 20.5% | 2023 | up 26.7% | falling |
| 118 | Uganda | 20.1% | 2024 | down 21.1% | falling |
| 119 | Oman | 19.6% | 2013 | down 9.4% | falling |
| 120 | Nigeria | 19.3% | 2013 | up 51.1% | rising |
| 121 | Myanmar | 18.7% | 2019 | up 39.8% | falling |
| 122 | Angola | 17.6% | 2021 | down 55.3% | rising |
| 123 | Qatar | 16.8% | 2010 | up 0.6% | rising |
| 124 | Afghanistan | 16.8% | 2017 | down 18.1% | falling |
| 125 | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 16.2% | 2020 | down 27.4% | falling |
| 126 | Congo | 13.7% | 2012 | up 65.8% | rising |
| 127 | Somalia | 11.1% | 2024 | up 323.9% | rising |
| 128 | Pakistan | 2.2% | 2015 | down 10.2% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.