Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Australia

Australia: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 60.9% in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
60.9%
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
30th
of 114 countries
All-time high
63.0%
in 2009
All-time low
57.6%
in 2021
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Australia, 2000–2022

02040602000201120222000: 59.32001: 61.12002: 61.62003: 61.52004: 62.62005: 62.92006: 62.22007: 61.22008: 61.22009: 632010: 61.22011: 61.92012: 61.12013: 61.72014: 61.22015: 61.62016: 62.12017: 62.12018: 61.32019: 61.22020: 58.62021: 57.62022: 60.9

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Australia recorded 60.9% for proportion of total government spending on essential services in 2022.

That represents a change of up 5.8% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in Australia peaked at 63.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 57.6%, in 2021.

Australia ranks 30th of 114 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) in Australia, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 59.3%
2001 61.1% +3.1%
2002 61.6% +0.7%
2003 61.5% -0.2%
2004 62.6% +1.8%
2005 62.9% +0.5%
2006 62.2% -1.2%
2007 61.2% -1.5%
2008 61.2% -0.1%
2009 63.0% +2.9%
2010 61.2% -2.9%
2011 61.9% +1.1%
2012 61.1% -1.4%
2013 61.7% +1.1%
2014 61.2% -0.9%
2015 61.6% +0.7%
2016 62.1% +0.8%
2017 62.1% -0.1%
2018 61.3% -1.3%
2019 61.2% -0.2%
2020 58.6% -4.2%
2021 57.6% -1.6%
2022 60.9% +5.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 61.7% 59.3% 63.0% 10
2010s 61.5% 61.1% 62.1% 10
2020s 59.0% 57.6% 60.9% 3

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 27 New Zealand 61.4% compare
  2. 28 Czechia 61.4% compare
  3. 29 Poland 61.0% compare
  4. 31 Estonia 60.8% compare
  5. 32 Slovakia 60.4% compare
  6. 33 Bulgaria 60.3% compare

See the full ranking of 125 places →

More infrastructure data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in Australia?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Australia was 60.9% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 63.0% in 2009.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 57.6% in 2021.
How does Australia rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
Australia ranks 30th out of 114 countries with data for 2022.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-percent/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
125 places, 2,281 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed